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B♭ minor add 9 chord on ukulele (B♭madd9)
Also called or written B♭madd9, B♭m add9, B♭ or B♭ minor Add 9th
B♭ minor add 9 contains B♭, D♭, F, and C. The 1st fret voicing uses all four fingers with no open strings, making it movable.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9
How do you play a B♭ minor add 9 chord on ukulele?
B♭ minor add 9 is played at the 1st fret as 3 1 1 3: ring finger on the G string at fret 3, index finger on the C string at fret 1, middle finger on the E string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 3 | B♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 2 | F (5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (2) |
AdvancedThe 1st fret voicing requires a wide stretch between the index finger on the 1st fret and the pinky on the 3rd fret of the A string.
B♭m add9/F inversion
B♭ minor add 9 is played at the 4th fret as 5 5 6 4: middle finger on the G string at fret 5, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, pinky finger on the E string at fret 6 and index finger on the A string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 2 | C (2) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 3 | F (5) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 1 | D♭ (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ minor add 9 is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9. The major 2nd interval between B♭ and C is the 9th that gives the chord its characteristic openness. Compare it with B♭ minor, which lacks the 9th and sounds darker.
What goes wrong with B♭ minor add 9?
- Letting the pinky collapse and mute the E string, which kills the perfect 5th.
- Placing the index finger too far from the fret, causing the C string to buzz.
When to use it
Its closed voicing suits jazz and R&B where a clean, sustained chord is needed. Use it in place of B♭ minor for a more modern sound.
Changing to and from B♭ minor add 9
- Move to B♭ minor by lifting the pinky and ring fingers, leaving the index and middle fingers on the 1st fret.
- Slide the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives B minor add 9.
Which voicing to use
The 1st fret voicing keeps the root B♭ as the lowest note, providing a solid foundation. The B♭m add9/C inversion places the 9th C in the bass, creating a lighter, more ambiguous sound that works well when moving to a D♭ major chord.
Other B♭ chords
Common questions
How is B♭ minor add 9 written?
B♭ minor add 9 is written as B♭m add9 or B♭ minor add 9. The ASCII root is Bb. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Why does B♭ minor add 9 sound brighter than B♭ minor?
The added 9th (C) creates a major 2nd interval above the root, which adds a shimmering quality that the plain minor triad lacks.
Can B♭ minor add 9 be played as an open chord?
No, the supplied voicings are all closed, but you can create an open voicing by using the B♭m add9/C inversion. With open strings if you adjust the fingering.