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B add 9 chord on guitar (Badd9)
Also called or 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.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 9
- Root positionB–D♯–F♯–C♯Badd9×-×-9-8-7-9
- First inversionD♯–F♯–C♯–BBadd9/D♯×-6-×-6-7-7
- Second inversionF♯–C♯–B–D♯Badd9/F♯2-2-1-×-2-×
- Third inversionC♯–B–D♯–F♯Badd9/C♯×-4-4-4-4-×
How do you play a B add 9 chord on guitar?
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.
Full note and interval 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♯ (2) |
AdvancedThe 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.
Badd9/D♯ inversion · fret 6
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 6 | 1 | D♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 2 | C♯ (2) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 3 | F♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 7 | 4 | B (1) |
Badd9/D♯ inversion · fret 9
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.
Full note and interval 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♯ (2) |
Badd9/D♯ inversion · fret 11
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (2) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 4 | B (1) |
| 1 (e) | 11 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (3) |
Badd9/F♯ inversion
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.
Full note and interval 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♯ (2) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
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.
Other B chords
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.