A♭ add 9 chord on ukulele (A♭add9)

Why it sounds like that

A♭ add 9 uses the formula 1, 3, 5, 9. The major 2nd between A♭ and B♭ adds a bright suspension to the major triad. Compare A♭ add 9 with A♭ major, which omits the 9th for a plainer sound.

What goes wrong with A♭ add 9?

• The pinky collapses and mutes the E string, losing the 5th.
• The index finger on the G string leans back and deadens the C string.
• The ring finger on the A string buzzes because it is not close enough to the fret wire.

When to use it

A♭ add 9 acts as the tonic in A♭ major, fitting the I–IV–V–I progression A♭–D♭–E♭–A♭. Its bright, ringing quality suits jazz and ballads. Use A♭ add 9 to replace A♭ major for a more expansive sound.

Changing to and from A♭ add 9

• From A♭ add 9 to G add 9, slide the entire shape down one fret to the 2nd fret.
• From A♭ add 9 to A add 9, slide the entire shape up one fret to the 4th fret.

Which voicing to use

The A♭add9/B♭ inversion at the 3rd fret places the 9th in the bass, creating a floating, unresolved sound that works well before a resolution to A♭ major. There is no root-position voicing for A♭ add 9 on the ukulele.