Skip to content

Guitar chords · Minor add 9

G♯m(add9) chord on guitar (G#m(add9))

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

Shapes

How to play G♯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.

G♯m(add9) has no common . Play it as the E shape at 4 or the A 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.

  • E shape · fret 4

    4frR59♭35RG♯D♯A♯BD♯G♯
  • A shape · fret 11

    8fr××R♭359G♯BD♯A♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes G♯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 G♯m(add9) a minor add 9 chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. G♯Rroot
  2. B♭3essential
  3. D♯5optional
  4. A♯9essential
EADGBE0135791215G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯A♯BD♯A♯BD♯A♯BD♯A♯BD♯A♯BD♯A♯BD♯A♯BA♯BD♯
  • G♯, the root
  • Other chord tones

G♯m(add9) and A♭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 G♯m(add9)

G♯m(add9) belongs to four keys: B major (vi(add9)), F♯ major (ii(add9)), G♯ minor (i(add9)) and D♯ 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

G♯m(add9) over another bass note

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

  • G♯m(add9)/B

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

  • G♯m(add9)/D♯

    G♯m(add9) with its 5th, D♯, in the bass.

Questions

G♯m(add9), in short

What notes are in the G♯m(add9) chord?
G♯m(add9) (G♯ minor add 9) has four notes: G♯, B, D♯ and A♯, the , ♭3, 5 and 9.
How do you play G♯m(add9) on guitar?
G♯m(add9) has no common . Play it as the E shape at 4 or the A shape at fret 11.
What key is G♯m(add9) in?
G♯m(add9) belongs to four keys: B major (vi(add9)), F♯ major (ii(add9)), G♯ minor (i(add9)) and D♯ minor (iv(add9)).
Is G♯m(add9) the same as A♭m(add9)?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. G♯m(add9) is the spelling in B major, F♯ major, G♯ minor and D♯ minor; A♭m(add9) in C♭ major, G♭ major, A♭ minor and E♭ minor.
All guitar chords