Tools / Chords / E add 9

E add 9 chord on guitar (Eadd9)

Also written Eadd9, E or E Add 9th

E add 9 is built from E, G♯, B and F♯. This open-position grip uses all six strings for a full, ringing sound.

Open0-2-2-1-0-2

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

E1Root

G♯3Major 3rd

B5Perfect 5th

F♯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 positionE–G♯–B–F♯Eadd9Bass E

First inversionG♯–B–F♯–EEadd9/G♯Bass G♯

Second inversionB–F♯–E–G♯Eadd9/BBass B

Third inversionF♯–E–G♯–BEadd9/F♯Bass F♯

Why it sounds like that

E add 9 adds the ninth, F♯, to the E major triad E–G♯–B, giving the formula 1, 3, 5, 9. The ninth creates a bright, open quality. Compare it with E major, which has only the triad.

What goes wrong with E add 9?

Muting the open B string with the pinky.
Buzzing the G string because the index finger is too far from the fret.
Letting the low E string ring out when it should be muted.

When to use it

E add 9 is the tonic in E major, fitting the I–IV–V–I progression E–A–B–E. It also works in the I–V–vi–IV of E–B–C♯ minor–A. The chord suits rock, blues, and country.

Changing to and from E add 9

Move to E major by lifting the pinky from the 1st string and placing it on the 4th string, 2nd fret.

Which voicing to use

The open shape and the 12th-fret shape keep E in the bass for a stable root-position sound. The G♯ inversions put the third in the bass, which lightens the chord and works well in arpeggiated parts.

How do you play an E add 9 chord on guitar?

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

E add 9 is played in open position as 0 2 2 1 0 2: middle finger on the A string at fret 2, ring finger on the D string at fret 2, index finger on the G string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 2. The low E and B strings ring open.

Tip — The open position requires a three-fret stretch from the index on the 1st fret to the pinky on the 2nd fret while keeping the B string open.

String-by-string breakdown

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

12th fret

Intermediate

E add 9 is played at the 12th fret as × × 14 13 12 14: ring finger on the D string at fret 14, middle finger on the G string at fret 13, index finger on the B string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 14. The low E and A strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	14	3	E (1)
3 (G)	13	2	G♯ (3)
2 (B)	12	1	B (5)
1 (e)	14	4	F♯ (9)

Eadd9/G♯ inversion · fret 2

Barre

E add 9 is played at the 2nd fret as 4 2 2 4 × 2: barre your index finger across fret 2, ring finger on the low E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 4. The B string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Eadd9/G♯ inversion · fret 4

Barre

E add 9 is played at the 4th fret as 4 × 4 4 5 4: barre your index finger across fret 4 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 5. The A string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Eadd9/G♯ inversion · fret 11

Intermediate

E add 9 is played at the 11th fret as × 11 × 11 12 12: index finger on the A string at fret 11, middle finger on the G string at fret 11, ring finger on the B string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 12. The low E and D strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Common questions

How is E add 9 written?

E add 9 is written as Eadd9 or E add 9. The symbol Eadd9 is common on chord charts.

What is the difference between E add 9 and E major?

E add 9 includes the ninth, F♯, while E major has only E, G♯, and B. The add 9 has a more open, suspended sound.

Can I play E add 9 with a barre?

The default open shape uses no barre, but the Eadd9/G♯ inversion at the 2nd fret uses a barre across the 2nd fret. That barre shape is more compact but harder to fret cleanly.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

open

—

E (1)

5 (A)

B (5)

4 (D)

E (1)

3 (G)

G♯ (3)

2 (B)

open

—

B (5)

1 (e)

F♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

E (1)

3 (G)

G♯ (3)

2 (B)

B (5)

1 (e)

F♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G♯ (3)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

B (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E (1)

3 (G)

B (5)

2 (B)

muted

—

1 (e)

1 (barre)

F♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

G♯ (3)

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F♯ (9)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

B (5)

2 (B)

E (1)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G♯ (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

G♯ (3)

4 (D)

muted

—

3 (G)

F♯ (9)

2 (B)

B (5)

1 (e)

E (1)