Also written E♭add9, E♭ or E♭ Add 9th
E♭ add 9 is built from E♭, G, B♭, and F. This advanced voicing uses a barre across three strings, demanding even finger pressure.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E♭ add 9 combines an E♭ major triad with the ninth, F: 1, 3, 5, 9. The ninth adds a gentle dissonance that resolves well to the root. Contrast with E♭ major, which has only E♭, G, and B♭.
E♭ add 9 functions as a tonic in E♭ major, often in the I–IV–V–I progression: E♭ major–A♭ major–B♭ major–E♭ major. It fits soul, gospel, and jazz ballads where the ninth adds warmth.
The E♭add9/F inversion places F in the bass, giving a suspended, unresolved feel. Use it when you want the chord to hover before resolving.
E♭ add 9 is played in open position as 1 1 1 0: barre your index finger across fret 1. The G string rings open.
Tip — The hardest part is holding a clean barre across three strings at fret 1 without buzzing or muting the open 1st string.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | F (9) |
| 3 (A) | 1 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (3) |
E♭ add 9 is played at the 12th fret as 13 13 13 12: middle finger on the E string at fret 13, ring finger on the A string at fret 13, pinky finger on the D string at fret 13 and index finger on the G string at fret 12.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 2 | F (9) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 13 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 1 | G (3) |
E♭ add 9 is written as E♭ or E♭add9. The ASCII root is Eb, so you may see Ebadd9. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
E♭ add 9 contains the ninth (F) but no seventh, while E♭ major 7 contains the seventh (D) but no ninth. E♭ add 9 sounds more open and less jazzy.
Yes, the E♭add9/F inversion at fret 13 places F in the bass and sounds brighter. It works well for melodic passages.