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B♭ minor add 9 chord on bass (B♭madd9)
Also called or written B♭madd9, B♭m add9, B♭ or B♭ minor Add 9th
B♭ minor add 9 is built from B♭, D♭, F, and C. This advanced bass voicing places the 9th in the bass, creating a wide stretch across four frets.
B♭m add9/C inversionfrom fret 6
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9
- Root positionB♭–D♭–F–CB♭madd9no shape on this instrument
- First inversionD♭–F–C–B♭B♭madd9/D♭no shape on this instrument
- Second inversionF–C–B♭–D♭B♭madd9/Fno shape on this instrument
- Third inversionC–B♭–D♭–FB♭madd9/C8-8-8-6
How do you play a B♭ minor add 9 chord on bass?
B♭ minor add 9 is played at the 6th fret as 8 8 8 6: middle finger on the E string at fret 8, ring finger on the A string at fret 8, pinky finger on the D string at fret 8 and index finger on the G string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (2) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 3 | F (5) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 6 | 1 | D♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe hardest part is stretching the index finger back to fret 6 while the other fingers hold fret 8.
Why it sounds like that
B♭ minor add 9 stacks a minor 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 2nd above the root. The added 9th softens the minor quality compared to B♭ minor, which omits the C.
What goes wrong with B♭ minor add 9?
- Letting the index finger collapse and buzz the G string at fret 6.
- Allowing the pinky to drift sharp and fret the D string at fret 9.
- Muting the A string with the ring finger while reaching for the D string.
Changing to and from B♭ minor add 9
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 6th fret gives A♭ minor add 9.
- From B♭ minor add 9, move the index finger up one fret to play B minor add 9.
Which voicing to use
The default voicing places the 9th, C, in the bass, creating a suspended, unresolved feel. Use this inversion when you want the bass to lead with tension before resolving to B♭ minor.
Other B♭ chords
Common questions
How is B♭ minor add 9 written?
B♭ minor add 9 is written as B♭m add9 or B♭ minor add 9. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between B♭ minor add 9 and B♭ minor 9th?
B♭ minor add 9 contains the 9th but no 7th. B♭ minor 9th includes the ♭7, giving it a more dissonant, jazzy sound.
Can B♭ minor add 9 be played in a lower register?
Yes, but the stretch becomes wider. The same voicing can be played an octave lower by shifting all frets down 12, though the bass may sound muddy.