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G major 9th chord on guitar (Gmaj9)
Also called or written Gmaj9 or G
G major 9th contains G, B, D, F♯, and A. The open voicing uses a mix of fretted and open strings, requiring careful finger placement.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
- Root positionG–B–D–F♯–AGmaj93-0-0-0-0-2
- First inversionB–D–F♯–A–GGmaj9/B×-2-4-2-3-3
- Second inversionD–F♯–A–G–BGmaj9/Dno shape on this instrument
- Third inversionF♯–A–G–B–DGmaj9/F♯2-0-0-0-0-2
- Fourth inversionA–G–B–D–F♯Gmaj9/A×-0-0-0-0-2
How do you play a G major 9th chord on guitar?
G major 9th is played in open position as 3 0 0 0 0 2: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3 and index finger on the high e string at fret 2. The A, D, G and B strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (1) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (2) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (5) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (3) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (7) |
AdvancedFretting the 6th and 1st strings while leaving the middle four strings open requires precise finger placement and light touch.
Open · 3-0-0-2-0-2
G major 9th is played in open position as 3 0 0 2 0 2: ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the G string at fret 2 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 2. The A, D and B strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (1) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (2) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (2) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (3) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (7) |
Open · 3-2-0-2-0-2
G major 9th is played in open position as 3 2 0 2 0 2: pinky finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 2, middle finger on the G string at fret 2 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The D and B strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 4 | G (1) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 | B (3) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (2) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (3) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (7) |
2nd fret
G major 9th is played at the 2nd fret as 3 2 4 2 3 2: barre your index finger across fret 2, middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the D string at fret 4 and ring finger on the B string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (1) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (3) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 4 | F♯ (7) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (2) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 3 | D (5) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (7) |
Gmaj9/B inversion
G major 9th is played at the 2nd fret as × 2 4 2 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 2, pinky finger on the D string at fret 4, middle finger on the B string at fret 3 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (3) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 4 | F♯ (7) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (2) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 2 | D (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (1) |
Why it sounds like that
G major 9th is built from the 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 of the G major scale. The major 7th F♯ and the 9th A give it a bright, airy quality. Compare it to G major 7th, which omits the 9th.
What goes wrong with G major 9th?
- Letting the middle finger touch the 5th string, deadening the 5th.
- Flattening the index finger onto the 2nd string, muffling the open B.
- Strumming too hard, causing the low G to overpower the chord.
When to use it
G major 9th serves as the I chord in G major, fitting progressions like G–C–D–G (I–IV–V–I). Its bright, open sound suits folk, country, and pop. It also works over G major and G major 7th.
Changing to and from G major 9th
- Move to <a href="/guitar/c-major-chord">C major</a> by shifting the middle finger to the 5th string, 3rd fret, and adding the ring finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret.
Which voicing to use
The open voicing keeps G in the bass for a warm, root-position sound. The 2nd-fret barre voicing offers a higher register with the same root in the bass. The Gmaj9/B inversion puts the third in the bass, creating a brighter, less settled feel.
Other G chords
Common questions
How is G major 9th written?
G major 9th is written G or Gmaj9. No enharmonic spelling is used.
What is the difference between G major 9th and G add 9?
G major 9th includes the major 7th F♯ along with the 9th A. G add 9 omits the 7th, giving a less dense sound.
Why does the open shape use both fretted and open strings?
The open strings provide the 5th D and the 9th A, while the fretted notes add the root, 3rd, and 7th. This creates a full, ringing voicing.