Tools / Chords / B♭ add 9

B♭ add 9 chord on guitar (B♭add9)

Also written B♭add9, B♭ or B♭ Add 9th

B♭ add 9 is built from B♭, D, F and C. The open position uses five strings and mutes only the low E.

Open×-1-0-3-1-1

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

B♭1Root

D3Major 3rd

F5Perfect 5th

C99th

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–CB♭add9Bass B♭

First inversionD–F–C–B♭B♭add9/DBass D

Second inversionF–C–B♭–DB♭add9/FBass F

Third inversionC–B♭–D–FB♭add9/CBass C

Why it sounds like that

B♭ add 9 stacks a Major 3rd, Perfect 5th and Major 2nd above the root B♭. The added Major 2nd from B♭ to C is what separates it from B♭ major. The chord has no tritone and no leading tone.

What goes wrong with B♭ add 9?

Letting the low E string ring, which is outside the chord.
Flattening the middle finger so it mutes the 4th string.
Pinky not pressing firmly, causing a muted 3rd string.

When to use it

B♭ add 9 works as the tonic in B♭ major, where it can replace B♭ major in the I–IV–V–I progression: B♭–E♭–F–B♭. It also fits the I–V–vi–IV progression B♭–F–G minor–E♭. The added 9th gives a lush, jazzy color.

Changing to and from B♭ add 9

From the open B♭ add 9, move to B♭ major by lifting the pinky and placing the ring finger on the 3rd string, 3rd fret.

Which voicing to use

The open position places the root B♭ on the 5th string, giving a clear bass. The B♭add9/D inversion at the 1st fret places the third in the bass for a lighter sound. The B♭add9/F inversion at the 1st fret places the fifth in the bass and omits the high e string.

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

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

B♭ add 9 is played in open position as × 1 0 3 1 1: index finger on the A string at fret 1, pinky finger on the G string at fret 3, middle finger on the B string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 1. The D string rings open. The low E string stays muted.

Tip — The pinky must reach the 3rd fret on the G string while the other fingers hold the 1st fret, a stretch that can cause buzzing.

String-by-string breakdown

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

6th fret

Intermediate

B♭ add 9 is played at the 6th fret as × × 8 7 6 8: ring finger on the D string at fret 8, middle finger on the G string at fret 7, index finger on the B string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 8. The low E and A strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

B♭add9/D inversion

Beginner

B♭ add 9 is played in open position as × × 0 3 1 1: ring finger on the G string at fret 3, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 1. The D string rings open. The low E and A strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

B♭add9/F inversion · 1-1-0-3-1-×

Beginner

B♭ add 9 is played in open position as 1 1 0 3 1 ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, middle finger on the A string at fret 1, pinky finger on the G string at fret 3 and ring finger on the B string at fret 1. The D string rings open. The high e string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

B♭add9/F inversion · 1-3-0-3-1-×

Beginner

B♭ add 9 is played in open position as 1 3 0 3 1 ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, pinky finger on the G string at fret 3 and middle finger on the B string at fret 1. The D string rings open. The high e string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Common questions

How is B♭ add 9 written?

B♭ add 9 is written as B♭add9 or B♭. The ASCII root spelling is Bb. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

What is the difference between B♭ add 9 and B♭ major?

B♭ add 9 adds the 9th, C, to the B♭ major triad B♭–D–F. B♭ major has only the root, major third and perfect fifth.

Can B♭ add 9 be played without the pinky?

Yes, the B♭add9/D inversion at the 1st fret omits the 3rd fret on the G string, but it changes the voicing.

Which scale degrees does B♭ add 9 contain?

B♭ add 9 contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 9th degrees of the B♭ major scale. The 9th is the same note as the 2nd, C.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

B♭ (1)

4 (D)

open

—

D (3)

3 (G)

B♭ (1)

2 (B)

C (9)

1 (e)

F (5)

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)

muted

—

4 (D)

open

—

D (3)

3 (G)

B♭ (1)

2 (B)

C (9)

1 (e)

F (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F (5)

5 (A)

B♭ (1)

4 (D)

open

—

D (3)

3 (G)

B♭ (1)

2 (B)

C (9)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F (5)

5 (A)

C (9)

4 (D)

open

—

D (3)

3 (G)

B♭ (1)

2 (B)

C (9)

1 (e)

muted

—