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F minor add 9 chord on guitar (Fmadd9)
Also called or written Fmadd9, Fm add9, F or F minor Add 9th
F minor add 9 is built from F, A♭, C, and G. The 1st-fret barre shape is identical in fingering to A minor add 9 but four frets lower.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9
- Root positionF–A♭–C–GFmadd91-3-3-1-1-3
- First inversionA♭–C–G–FFmadd9/A♭4-3-3-5-×-3
- Second inversionC–G–F–A♭Fmadd9/C×-3-3-1-1-3
- Third inversionG–F–A♭–CFmadd9/G3-3-3-1-1-1
How do you play an F minor add 9 chord on guitar?
F minor add 9 is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 3 1 1 3: barre your index finger across fret 1, middle finger on the A string at fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (5) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 3 | F (1) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (2) |
AdvancedThe index barre must hold the 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings at the 1st fret while the pinky reaches the 3rd fret on the high e.
13th fret
F minor add 9 is played at the 13th fret as 13 15 15 13 13 15: barre your index finger across fret 13, middle finger on the A string at fret 15, ring finger on the D string at fret 15 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 15.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 1 (barre) | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | 15 | 2 | C (5) |
| 4 (D) | 15 | 3 | F (1) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 15 | 4 | G (2) |
Fm add9/A♭ inversion · fret 3
F minor add 9 is played at the 3rd fret as 4 3 3 5 × 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the low E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5. The B string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 3 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 1 (barre) | F (1) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 4 | C (5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (2) |
Fm add9/A♭ inversion · fret 4
F minor add 9 is played at the 4th fret as 4 × 5 5 6 4: barre your index finger across fret 4, middle finger on the D string at fret 5, ring finger on the G string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 6. The A string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 5 | 2 | G (2) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 3 | C (5) |
| 2 (B) | 6 | 4 | F (1) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (♭3) |
Fm add9/A♭ inversion · fret 11
F minor add 9 is played at the 11th fret as × 11 × 12 13 13: index finger on the A string at fret 11, middle finger on the G string at fret 12, ring finger on the B string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 13. The low E and D strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 1 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 2 | G (2) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 3 | C (5) |
| 1 (e) | 13 | 4 | F (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F minor add 9 uses the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9. The major 2nd between F and G adds the ninth, while the minor 3rd between F and A♭ keeps the minor quality. Compare with F minor, which omits the ninth.
What goes wrong with F minor add 9?
- Letting the index barre lift off the high e string, causing a buzz at the 1st fret.
- Flattening the middle finger onto the 4th string and deadening the D at the 3rd fret.
When to use it
F minor add 9 works as the vi chord in A♭ major, as in A♭–E♭–Fm–D♭, the I–V–vi–IV. It suits moody, introspective passages where the added ninth adds a subtle warmth.
Changing to and from F minor add 9
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives F♯ minor add 9.
- From F minor, lift the pinky and middle finger to return to the 1st-fret F minor barre.
Which voicing to use
The 1st-fret voicing puts F in the bass for a root-position sound. The Fm add9/A♭ inversion at the 3rd fret places A♭ in the bass, giving a darker, less stable feel.
Other F chords
Common questions
What is the difference between F minor add 9 and F minor 9?
F minor add 9 contains only the root, minor third, fifth, and ninth. F minor 9 adds the minor seventh as well, creating a denser, more dissonant sound.
Can I play F minor add 9 without the barre?
Yes, the Fm add9/A♭ inversion at the 3rd fret uses no barre. It omits the low E string and places A♭ in the bass, but it is easier for beginners.
Why does the 1st-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.