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F 6th add 9 chord on guitar (F6/9)
Also called or written F6/9, F6add9, F 6th Add 9th or F 6th 9
F 6th add 9 contains F, A, C, D and G. The open position uses no barre and includes all six strings, making it the most accessible voicing.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6, 9
- Root positionF–A–C–D–GF6/91-0-0-0-1-1
- First inversionA–C–D–G–FF6/9/A×-0-0-0-1-1
- Second inversionC–D–G–F–AF6/9/C8-8-7-7-8-×
- Third inversionD–G–F–A–CF6/9/D×-5-5-5-6-5
- Fourth inversionG–F–A–C–DF6/9/G3-0-0-0-1-1
How do you play an F 6th add 9 chord on guitar?
F 6th add 9 is played in open position as 1 0 0 0 1 1: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, middle finger on the B string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 1. The A, D and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (3) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (6) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (2) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 2 | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 3 | F (1) |
AdvancedThe index finger must fret the low E at the 1st fret while the middle and ring fingers fret the B and high e at the same fret, requiring a compact hand position.
Open · 1-0-0-0-1-3
F 6th add 9 is played in open position as 1 0 0 0 1 3: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, middle finger on the B string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A, D and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (3) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (6) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (2) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 2 | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (2) |
Open · 1-0-0-2-1-3
F 6th add 9 is played in open position as 1 0 0 2 1 3: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, ring finger on the G string at fret 2, middle finger on the B string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A and D strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (3) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (6) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (3) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 2 | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (2) |
7th fret
F 6th add 9 is played at the 7th fret as × 8 7 7 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 7, middle finger on the A string at fret 8, ring finger on the B string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 8. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 8 | 2 | F (1) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 1 (barre) | A (3) |
| 3 (G) | 7 | 1 (barre) | D (6) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 3 | G (2) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 4 | C (5) |
12th fret
F 6th add 9 is played at the 12th fret as 13 12 12 12 13 13: barre your index finger across fret 12, middle finger on the low E string at fret 13, ring finger on the B string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 13.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 2 | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 1 (barre) | A (3) |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 1 (barre) | D (6) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 1 (barre) | G (2) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 3 | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 13 | 4 | F (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F 6th add 9 is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 6, 9. The major 6th D adds a warm, pastoral colour, and the 9th G gives a gentle lift. Compare it to F 6th, which omits the 9th and sounds more grounded.
What goes wrong with F 6th add 9?
- The index finger accidentally touching the A string and muting it.
- The middle finger touching the G string and deadening it.
- Strumming too hard and making the open strings overpower the fretted notes.
When to use it
F 6th add 9 acts as the tonic in F major, fitting the I–IV–V–I progression F–B♭–C–F. It also works in the I–V–vi–IV loop F–C–Dm–B♭. Use it in folk or country for a bright, open feel.
Changing to and from F 6th add 9
- Move to F major by lifting the middle and ring fingers, leaving the index finger on the low E.
- Sliding the shape up to the 7th fret gives F 6th add 9 in a higher register; keep the same finger pattern.
Which voicing to use
The open position has F in the bass for a solid root position. The 7th-fret voicing also has F in the bass but in a higher register, giving a brighter, more cutting sound for lead lines.
Other F chords
Common questions
How is F 6th add 9 written?
F 6th add 9 is written as F6/9 or F6add9. The symbols F6/9 and F6add9 are interchangeable.
What is the difference between F 6th add 9 and F major 9th?
F 6th add 9 contains the major 6th D and the 9th G, but no major 7th. F major 9th includes the major 7th E and the 9th G, giving a jazzier, more complex sound.
Can F 6th add 9 be played with a barre?
The 7th-fret voicing uses a barre across strings 4 and 3 at the 7th fret, with the root F on the 5th string. The open position is barre-free and easier for beginners.