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E♭ minor add 9 chord on bass (E♭madd9)
Also called or written E♭madd9, E♭m add9, E♭ or E♭ minor Add 9th
E♭ minor add 9 is built from E♭, G♭, B♭, and F. This advanced bass voicing places the 9th in the bass, requiring a wide stretch across four frets.
E♭m add9/F inversionfrom fret 11
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9
- Root positionE♭–G♭–B♭–FE♭madd9no shape on this instrument
- First inversionG♭–B♭–F–E♭E♭madd9/G♭no shape on this instrument
- Second inversionB♭–F–E♭–G♭E♭madd9/B♭no shape on this instrument
- Third inversionF–E♭–G♭–B♭E♭madd9/F13-13-13-11
How do you play an E♭ minor add 9 chord on bass?
E♭ minor add 9 is played at the 11th fret as 13 13 13 11: 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 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 2 | F (2) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 13 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 1 | G♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe hardest part is stretching the index finger back to fret 11 while the other fingers hold fret 13.
Why it sounds like that
E♭ minor add 9 stacks a minor 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 2nd above the root. The added 9th softens the minor quality compared to E♭ minor, which omits the F.
What goes wrong with E♭ minor add 9?
- Letting the index finger collapse and buzz the G string at fret 11.
- Allowing the pinky to drift sharp and fret the D string at fret 14.
- Muting the A string with the ring finger while reaching for the D string.
Changing to and from E♭ minor add 9
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 11th fret gives C♯ minor add 9.
- From E♭ minor add 9, move the index finger down one fret to play D minor add 9.
Which voicing to use
The default voicing places the 9th, F, in the bass, creating a suspended, unresolved feel. Use this inversion when you want the bass to lead with tension before resolving to E♭ minor.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ minor add 9 written?
E♭ minor add 9 is written as E♭m add9 or E♭ minor add 9. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between E♭ minor add 9 and E♭ minor 9th?
E♭ minor add 9 contains the 9th but no 7th. E♭ minor 9th includes the ♭7, giving it a more dissonant, jazzy sound.
Can E♭ 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.