B7b9

— About this chord

B7b9 (1–3–5–♭7–♭9) is a tense, altered dominant chord with a dark, dissonant bite that begs for resolution. Essential in jazz turnarounds (V7b9–i) and classical-tinged blues cadences, it also appears in flamenco and gypsy jazz for dramatic color. On guitar it's commonly played as a compact voicing near the open position; pianists favor tight upper-structure clusters. Strongly pulls to E minor or E major, perfect for ii-V-i lines and noir harmonic color. Also searched as B7-b9, Balt7b9.