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Guitar chords · Minor add 9

E♭m(add9) chord on guitar (Ebm(add9))

E♭m(add9) (E♭ minor add 9) has four notes: E♭, G♭, B♭ and F, the , ♭3, 5 and 9.

Shapes

How to play E♭m(add9)

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

E♭m(add9) has no common . Play it as the A shape at 6 or the E shape at fret 11. 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 6

    3fr××R♭359E♭G♭B♭F
  • E shape · fret 11

    11frR59♭35RE♭B♭FG♭B♭E♭
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes E♭m(add9) minor add 9

A minor add9 chord is a minor chord with the 9th added and no 7th. The 9th sits a above the , giving the minor chord a wistful, ringing colour heard in ballads and film music.

  • 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 E♭m(add9) a minor add 9 chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. E♭Rroot
  2. G♭♭3essential
  3. B♭5optional
  4. F9essential
EADGBE0135791215E♭E♭E♭E♭E♭E♭E♭FG♭B♭FG♭B♭FG♭B♭FG♭B♭FB♭FG♭B♭FG♭B♭FG♭B♭FG♭
  • E♭, the root
  • Other chord tones

E♭m(add9) and D♯m(add9) are the same chord with two names: same , same sound. Which one you see depends on the key the song is written in.

Keys

Keys with E♭m(add9)

E♭m(add9) belongs to four keys: G♭ major (vi(add9)), D♭ major (ii(add9)), E♭ minor (i(add9)) and B♭ minor (iv(add9)).

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

E♭m(add9) over another bass note

A keeps E♭m(add9) on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • E♭m(add9)/G♭

    E♭m(add9) with its ♭3rd, G♭, in the bass.

  • E♭m(add9)/B♭

    E♭m(add9) with its 5th, B♭, in the bass.

Questions

E♭m(add9), in short

What notes are in the E♭m(add9) chord?
E♭m(add9) (E♭ minor add 9) has four notes: E♭, G♭, B♭ and F, the , ♭3, 5 and 9.
How do you play E♭m(add9) on guitar?
E♭m(add9) has no common . Play it as the A shape at 6 or the E shape at fret 11.
What key is E♭m(add9) in?
E♭m(add9) belongs to four keys: G♭ major (vi(add9)), D♭ major (ii(add9)), E♭ minor (i(add9)) and B♭ minor (iv(add9)).
Is E♭m(add9) the same as D♯m(add9)?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. E♭m(add9) is the spelling in G♭ major, D♭ major, E♭ minor and B♭ minor; D♯m(add9) in F♯ major, C♯ major, D♯ minor and A♯ minor.
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