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Add9 chords on guitar

Add9 chords in all 12 keys.

Add9 formula compared with nearby chord types

These A-rooted chords share their listed notes; each button plays the two chords in order.

Aadd9 and A

Aadd9: A · C# · E · B · formula 1 · 3 · 5 · 9

A: A · C# · E · formula 1 · 3 · 5

Shared notes: A, C#, E; Drops B.

Aadd9 and Asus2

Aadd9: A · C# · E · B · formula 1 · 3 · 5 · 9

Asus2: A · B · E · formula 1 · 2 · 5

Shared notes: A, E, B; Drops C#.

The intervals 1, 3, 5, and 9 give it a bright, open sound.

5 of the 12 add9 chords on guitar have an easy shape (no barre, three fingers or fewer, first four frets): Gadd9, Cadd9, Aadd9, Eadd9, Ebadd9.

Easiest to hardest

  1. Gadd9
  2. Cadd9
  3. Aadd9
  4. Eadd9
  5. Ebadd9
  6. Fadd9 (higher up the neck)
  7. Dadd9 (higher up the neck)
  8. Bbadd9 (higher up the neck)
  9. F#add9 (higher up the neck)
  10. Abadd9 (higher up the neck)
  11. Badd9 (higher up the neck)
  12. C#add9 (higher up the neck)

Other chord types: Major · Minor · 7th · Major 7th · Minor 7th · Sus2 · Sus4 · Diminished · Augmented