Yes Billy there is a work around… keep working on it but in the meantime you can cheat and just play the first, second and third in the second fret. Or just eliminate note on the 5th string second fret. Eventually, it will happen. Hope this helps.

John

Billy,
9th chords rooted on the 5th string give me fits, too. You can skip the high E string, that’s a 5th interval and a common interval to drop within extended chords. So, put 2nd finger on the B, 2nd fret, 5th string; index on the D#, 1st fret, 4th string; ring finger on the A, 2nd fret, 3rd string; pinky on the C#, 2nd fret, 2nd string. You’ve still got a B9 but with an easy grip.
Alternatively, I often bar the 3 high strings with my pinky, instead of the usual ring finger.
John

I use my third finger to bar strings 1,2 & 3 my second on String 4 and my first on String 5 using the finger end to damp the 6th

Always done it that way what fingerings are you doing?

Until you can play the C9/B9 as shown, just bar all the way across at the 3rd fret. Play the 5th string and then the top three strings. Then slide it all down to the 2nd fret. Not perfect, but it might work for you.

You can play it on the seventh fret on the inside 4 strings, but I don’t know if that’s any easier.

Check the video Billy, I think Brian only plays strings 2, 3, 4 and 5. Although my eyes aren’t what they were so maybe I’m wrong (NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME LADDIE!!). Come to think of it I’ve worn glasses from the age of ten so they were never very good to start with!
Martyn

I have always held that as Richard describes. I have also tried Brian’s way using the pinky and can make it at a slight squeeze. You haven’t said which way you are stuckinhibited with?

Billy,
As I said, I do the same. Try pushing your wrist forward and you can almost use the straight side of you pinky, it doesn’t have to bend. My ring and pinky fingers have zero flexibility.
John

OK so I made a mistake and said the seventh fret but that would be the C9.
B9, 6th fret, would be index 6th fret 5th string. ring 7th fret 4th string. middle 6th fret 3rd string. and pinky 7th fret 2nd string. Both E strings are muted. There isn’t a root in this version

Most people just play it as a common ordinary B7 chord shape, easy peazy. That leaves the 2nd string open, but our fat ring finger deadens it anyway. Funk, reggae, jazz…everybody does it that way.

I’m late trying to add anything to this, but so much (obviously) hinges on the makeup of our particular hands. I find I can “collapse” my third finger across the top 3 strings but my hand didn’t like doing this at all at first but then after a little practice it was almost as if it decided oh ok I suppose I can do this. It might be worth practising this a bit in case it falls into place for you.

Have you tried hanging your thumb over to cover strings 5 and 6 on the third fret, First finger on fret two of string 4, and then third finger covers strings 1,2 and 3 without the need to collapse that finger. It works fine for me and it gives a strong grip that moves up and down fret board easily…