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F♯ minor add 9 chord on guitar (F♯madd9)
Also called or written F♯madd9, F♯m add9, F♯ or F♯ minor Add 9th
F♯ minor add 9 is built from F♯, A, C♯, and G♯. The 2nd-fret barre shape is identical in fingering to A minor add 9 but three frets lower.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9
- Root positionF♯–A–C♯–G♯F♯madd92-4-4-2-2-4
- First inversionA–C♯–G♯–F♯F♯madd9/A×-0-×-1-2-2
- Second inversionC♯–G♯–F♯–AF♯madd9/C♯×-4-4-2-2-4
- Third inversionG♯–F♯–A–C♯F♯madd9/G♯4-4-4-2-2-2
How do you play an F♯ minor add 9 chord on guitar?
F♯ minor add 9 is played at the 2nd fret as 2 4 4 2 2 4: barre your index finger across fret 2, middle finger on the A string at fret 4, ring finger on the D string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 4 | G♯ (2) |
AdvancedThe index barre must hold the 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings at the 2nd fret while the pinky reaches the 4th fret on the high e.
F♯m add9/A inversion · open position — the easy shape, no barre
F♯ minor add 9 is played in open position as × 0 × 1 2 2: index finger on the G string at fret 1, middle finger on the B string at fret 2 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The A string rings open. The low E and D strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 | G♯ (2) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
F♯m add9/A inversion · fret 4
F♯ minor add 9 is played at the 4th fret as 5 4 4 6 × 4: barre your index finger across fret 4, ring finger on the low E string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 6. The B string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5 | 3 | A (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (2) |
F♯m add9/A inversion · fret 5
F♯ minor add 9 is played at the 5th fret as 5 × 6 6 7 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, middle finger on the D string at fret 6, ring finger on the G string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 7. The A string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 2 | G♯ (2) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (♭3) |
F♯m add9/A inversion · fret 12
F♯ minor add 9 is played at the 12th fret as × 12 × 13 14 14: index finger on the A string at fret 12, middle finger on the G string at fret 13, ring finger on the B string at fret 14 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 14. The low E and D strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 1 | A (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 2 | G♯ (2) |
| 2 (B) | 14 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 14 | 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 2nd fret.
- Flattening the middle finger onto the 4th string and deadening the D at the 4th fret.
When to use it
F♯ minor add 9 works as the vi chord in A major, as in A–E–F♯m–D, the I–V–vi–IV. It suits bright, driving passages where the added ninth adds a sparkling top note.
Changing to and from F♯ minor add 9
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives G minor add 9.
- From F♯ minor, lift the pinky and middle finger to return to the 2nd-fret F♯ minor barre.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd-fret voicing puts F♯ in the bass for a root-position sound. The F♯m add9/A inversion at the 1st fret places A in the bass, giving a darker, less stable feel.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ minor add 9 written?
F♯ minor add 9 is written as F♯m add9 or F♯ minor add 9. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
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 F♯m add9/A inversion at the 1st fret uses no barre. It omits the low E string and places A in the bass, but it is easier for beginners.