Tools / Chords / B add 9

B add 9 chord on guitar (Badd9)

Also written Badd9, B or B Add 9th

B add 9 is built from B, D♯, F♯ and C♯. The default grip at the 7th fret demands a wide stretch between the index and pinky fingers.

7th fret×-×-9-8-7-9

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

B1Root

D♯3Major 3rd

F♯5Perfect 5th

C♯99th

Formula 1, 3, 5, 9

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionB–D♯–F♯–C♯Badd9Bass B

First inversionD♯–F♯–C♯–BBadd9/D♯Bass D♯

Second inversionF♯–C♯–B–D♯Badd9/F♯Bass F♯

Third inversionC♯–B–D♯–F♯Badd9/C♯Bass C♯

Why it sounds like that

B add 9 is a major triad with the 9th added, a major 2nd above the root. The C♯ adds a shimmering quality to the otherwise plain B major. Contrast it with B major, which has only three notes.

What goes wrong with B add 9?

Letting the low E or A string sound, which adds notes outside the chord.
Buzzing the D string because the ring finger is not close enough to the fret.
Collapsing the pinky joint so it mutes the high E string.

When to use it

B add 9 functions as the tonic in B major, fitting progressions like B–E–F♯–B (I–IV–V–I). It is common in rock ballads and modern worship music. Use it to add color to B major without changing the harmony.

Changing to and from B add 9

Move to B major by lifting the pinky and keeping the other three fingers on the same frets.
Slide the shape down two frets to the 5th fret to play A add 9.

Which voicing to use

The 7th fret position has B in the bass for a solid root sound. The Badd9/D♯ inversion at the 6th fret puts the major 3rd in the bass, creating a slightly unstable but colorful voicing. The Badd9/F♯ inversion at the 2nd fret has the 5th in the bass and is useful for stepwise bass movement.

How do you play a B add 9 chord on guitar?

7th fret

Intermediate● On the diagram

B add 9 is played at the 7th fret as × × 9 8 7 9: ring finger on the D string at fret 9, middle finger on the G string at fret 8, index finger on the B string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 9. The low E and A strings stay muted.

Tip — The pinky must stretch to the 9th fret on the high E while the index holds the 7th fret on the B string, a two-fret span.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	9	3	B (1)
3 (G)	8	2	D♯ (3)
2 (B)	7	1	F♯ (5)
1 (e)	9	4	C♯ (9)

Badd9/D♯ inversion · fret 6

Intermediate

B add 9 is played at the 6th fret as × 6 × 6 7 7: index finger on the A string at fret 6, middle finger on the G string at fret 6, ring finger on the B string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 7. The low E and D strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	6	1	D♯ (3)
4 (D)	muted	—	—
3 (G)	6	2	C♯ (9)
2 (B)	7	3	F♯ (5)
1 (e)	7	4	B (1)

Badd9/D♯ inversion · fret 9

Barre

B add 9 is played at the 9th fret as 11 9 9 11 × 9: barre your index finger across fret 9, ring finger on the low E string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 11. The B string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	11	3	D♯ (3)
5 (A)	9	1 (barre)	F♯ (5)
4 (D)	9	1 (barre)	B (1)
3 (G)	11	4	F♯ (5)
2 (B)	muted	—	—
1 (e)	9	1 (barre)	C♯ (9)

Badd9/D♯ inversion · fret 11

Barre

B add 9 is played at the 11th fret as 11 × 11 11 12 11: barre your index finger across fret 11 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 12. The A string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	11	1 (barre)	D♯ (3)
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	11	1 (barre)	C♯ (9)
3 (G)	11	1 (barre)	F♯ (5)
2 (B)	12	4	B (1)
1 (e)	11	1 (barre)	D♯ (3)

Badd9/F♯ inversion

Intermediate

B add 9 is played at the 1st fret as 2 2 1 × 2 ×: middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 2, index finger on the D string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 2. The G and high e strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	2	2	F♯ (5)
5 (A)	2	3	B (1)
4 (D)	1	1	D♯ (3)
3 (G)	muted	—	—
2 (B)	2	4	C♯ (9)
1 (e)	muted	—	—

Common questions

How is B add 9 written?

B add 9 is written as Badd9 or B. The symbol Badd9 is the most common, and the alternate name Add 9th is also used.

What is the difference between B add 9 and B suspended 2nd?

B add 9 contains the major 3rd (D♯) and the 9th (C♯), while B suspended 2nd replaces the 3rd with the 2nd (C♯). B add 9 has a more resolved major sound.

Can I play B add 9 with a barre?

The default 7th fret shape uses no barre, but the Badd9/D♯ inversion at the 11th fret uses a barre at the 11th fret. That voicing is higher and brighter.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

B (1)

3 (G)

D♯ (3)

2 (B)

F♯ (5)

1 (e)

C♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

D♯ (3)

4 (D)

muted

—

3 (G)

C♯ (9)

2 (B)

F♯ (5)

1 (e)

B (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

D♯ (3)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

F♯ (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

B (1)

3 (G)

F♯ (5)

2 (B)

muted

—

1 (e)

1 (barre)

C♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

D♯ (3)

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

1 (barre)

C♯ (9)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

F♯ (5)

2 (B)

B (1)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

D♯ (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F♯ (5)

5 (A)

B (1)

4 (D)

D♯ (3)

3 (G)

muted

—

2 (B)

C♯ (9)

1 (e)

muted

—