The following example demonstrates a common technique for creating interest when using ninth chords. The notes on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings slide up two frets to the position of a sixth chord, before playing the root note on the first string. The original three notes then slide back down two frets back to the position of the ninth chord.
Here is the technique applied to a 12 Bar Blues progression. Notice the use of chromatic runs between chords Iand IV, both ascending and descending. This is also a common technique in slow Blues playing.