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Guitar chords · Add 9

Badd9 chord on guitar

Badd9 (B add 9) has four notes: B, D♯, F♯ and C♯, the , 3, 5 and 9.

Shapes

How to play Badd9

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Badd9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 2. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 2

    2fr××R593BF♯C♯D♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Badd9 add 9

An add9 chord is a major chord with the 9th (the 2nd, an up) added on top. Unlike a sus2, it keeps its 3rd, so it still sounds major, just brighter and more open.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The 3rd and the 9th make Badd9 an add 9 chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. BRroot
  2. D♯3essential
  3. F♯5optional
  4. C♯9essential
EADGBE0135791215BBBBBBBBF♯C♯D♯F♯C♯D♯F♯D♯F♯C♯D♯C♯D♯F♯C♯D♯F♯C♯F♯C♯D♯F♯
  • B, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Badd9

Badd9 belongs to six keys: E major (Vadd9), B major (Iadd9), F♯ major (IVadd9), C♯ minor (VIIadd9), G♯ minor (IIIadd9) and D♯ minor (VIadd9).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

Badd9 over another bass note

A keeps Badd9 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Badd9/D♯

    Badd9 with its 3rd, D♯, in the bass.

  • Badd9/F♯

    Badd9 with its 5th, F♯, in the bass.

Questions

Badd9, in short

What notes are in the Badd9 chord?
Badd9 (B add 9) has four notes: B, D♯, F♯ and C♯, the , 3, 5 and 9.
How do you play Badd9 on guitar?
Badd9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 2.
What key is Badd9 in?
Badd9 belongs to six keys: E major (Vadd9), B major (Iadd9), F♯ major (IVadd9), C♯ minor (VIIadd9), G♯ minor (IIIadd9) and D♯ minor (VIadd9).
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