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B minor add 9 chord on guitar (Bmadd9)
Also called or written Bmadd9, Bm add9, B or B minor Add 9th
B minor add 9 is built from B, D, F♯, and C♯. The 7th-fret barre shape is identical in fingering to A minor add 9 but two frets higher.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9
- Root positionB–D–F♯–C♯Bmadd97-9-9-7-7-9
- First inversionD–F♯–C♯–BBmadd9/D×-5-×-6-7-7
- Second inversionF♯–C♯–B–DBmadd9/F♯×-9-9-7-7-9
- Third inversionC♯–B–D–F♯Bmadd9/C♯×-4-4-4-3-×
How do you play a B minor add 9 chord on guitar?
B minor add 9 is played at the 7th fret as 7 9 9 7 7 9: barre your index finger across fret 7, middle finger on the A string at fret 9, ring finger on the D string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7 | 1 (barre) | B (1) |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 3 | B (1) |
| 3 (G) | 7 | 1 (barre) | D (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 9 | 4 | C♯ (2) |
AdvancedThe index barre must hold the 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings at the 7th fret while the pinky reaches the 9th fret on the high e.
Bm add9/D inversion · fret 5
B minor add 9 is played at the 5th fret as × 5 × 6 7 7: index finger on the A string at fret 5, 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) | 5 | 1 | D (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 2 | C♯ (2) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 3 | F♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 7 | 4 | B (1) |
Bm add9/D inversion · fret 9
B minor add 9 is played at the 9th fret as 10 9 9 11 × 9: barre your index finger across fret 9, ring finger on the low E string at fret 10 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) | 10 | 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) |
Bm add9/D inversion · fret 10
B minor add 9 is played at the 10th fret as 10 × 11 11 12 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, middle finger on the D string at fret 11, ring finger on the G string at 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) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 2 | C♯ (2) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 3 | F♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 4 | B (1) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (♭3) |
Bm add9/F♯ inversion
B minor add 9 is played at the 7th fret as × 9 9 7 7 9: barre your index finger across fret 7, middle finger on the A string at fret 9, ring finger on the D string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 9. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 3 | B (1) |
| 3 (G) | 7 | 1 (barre) | D (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 9 | 4 | C♯ (2) |
Why it sounds like that
B minor add 9 uses the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9. The major 2nd between B and C♯ adds the ninth, while the minor 3rd between B and D keeps the minor quality. Compare with B minor, which omits the ninth.
What goes wrong with B minor add 9?
- Letting the index barre lift off the high e string, causing a buzz at the 7th fret.
- Flattening the middle finger onto the 4th string and deadening the D at the 9th fret.
When to use it
B minor add 9 works as the vi chord in D major, as in D–A–Bm–G, the I–V–vi–IV. It suits melancholic rock and ballad passages where the added ninth adds a gentle lift.
Changing to and from B minor add 9
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 5th fret gives A minor add 9.
- From B minor, lift the pinky and middle finger to return to the 7th-fret B minor barre.
Which voicing to use
The 7th-fret voicing puts B in the bass for a root-position sound. The Bm add9/D inversion at the 5th fret places D in the bass, giving a darker, less stable feel.
Other B chords
Common questions
What is the difference between B minor add 9 and B minor 9?
B minor add 9 contains only the root, minor third, fifth, and ninth. B minor 9 adds the minor seventh as well, creating a denser, more dissonant sound.
Can I play B minor add 9 without the barre?
Yes, the Bm add9/D inversion at the 5th fret uses no barre. It omits the low E string and places D in the bass, but it is easier for beginners.
Why does the 7th-fret shape feel so stretchy?
The pinky must reach two frets above the barre on the high e string. This stretch is the main physical challenge of the voicing.