In this lesson, Colin shows you how to add the sharp 9 chord — also known as the augmented 9 — into a 12-bar blues progression for some extra flavor and attitude. This is a continuation of the 9th Chord Bootcamp mini-series, so if you haven’t watched Lesson 1 yet, you might want to start there.
What makes this chord so cool? It’s got bite. The sharp 9 adds a gritty, almost Hendrix-like edge to your rhythm playing, and when you place it just right — usually for a beat or two — it can completely transform the feel of the progression.
In this video you’ll see:
• How the sharp 9 is built off the regular 9th chord
• Why it’s considered an “embellishment” chord (and not one you hold for too long)
• Where to insert it in a standard blues progression in E
• Bonus rhythm moves you can use to slide into and out of the 9th chord
Ready to Go Deeper with Your Blues Chords?
If you’re enjoying this lesson and starting to see how much flavor a 9th chord can add to your playing… that’s just the beginning. Check out lesson 3 in this series next.
Inside my full course — Ultimate Blues Guitar: Stage 1 – Chords — we dig way deeper into the kinds of chords that actually sound like blues. You’ll learn how to use substitutions, embellishments, bar chords, triads, and more — all tied back to real 12-bar progressions and practical examples.
This isn’t just a list of chord shapes. It’s a complete system to help you understand how the chords work, so you can play them with confidence — and create your own sound.
Whether you’re playing solo or jamming with others, this course will give you:
✓ A rock-solid understanding of blues chord theory (without boring lectures)
✓ Over 400 useable chords and voicings — no memorization drills required
✓ Tricks for learning and remembering songs faster
✓ Tools to move past generic “cowboy chords” and into the real blues sound
👉 Click here to check out the full course and start building the kind of blues rhythm foundation your lead playing deserves.