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E add 9 chord on guitar (Eadd9)
Also called or 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.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 9
- Root positionE–G♯–B–F♯Eadd90-2-2-1-0-2
- First inversionG♯–B–F♯–EEadd9/G♯4-2-2-4-×-2
- Second inversionB–F♯–E–G♯Eadd9/B×-2-2-1-0-2
- Third inversionF♯–E–G♯–BEadd9/F♯2-2-2-1-0-0
How do you play an E add 9 chord on guitar?
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.
Full note and interval 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♯ (2) |
AdvancedThe 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.
12th fret
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.
Full note and interval 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♯ (2) |
Eadd9/G♯ inversion · fret 2
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.
Full note and interval 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♯ (2) |
Eadd9/G♯ inversion · fret 4
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (2) |
| 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
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 1 | G♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (2) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 3 | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 4 | E (1) |
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.
Other E chords
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.