Tools / Chords / D add 9

D add 9 chord on ukulele (Dadd9)

Also written Dadd9, D or D Add 9th

Ukulele · Dadd9/E inversion · fret 2

D add 9 is built from D, F♯, A and E. The default voicing requires a pinky stretch to the 5th fret, making it a demanding grip.

Dadd9/E inversion · fret 22-4-2-5

Positions on the neck1 of 4

How it’s built

D1Root

F♯3Major 3rd

A5Perfect 5th

E99th

Formula 1, 3, 5, 9

Positions on the neck1 of 4

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionD–F♯–A–EDadd9Bass D

First inversionF♯–A–E–DDadd9/F♯Bass F♯

Second inversionA–E–D–F♯Dadd9/ABass A

Third inversionE–D–F♯–ADadd9/EBass E

Why it sounds like that

D add 9 stacks a major 3rd, perfect 5th and major 2nd above the root. The major 2nd is the add 9 colour. Compare D major, which omits that 9th.

What goes wrong with D add 9?

Letting the pinky collapse mutes the A string at fret 5.
The ring finger on fret 4 of the C string can accidentally touch the E string, deadening it.
Strumming the open G string instead of fretting it at 2.

When to use it

D add 9 works as a colour chord in D major, such as the I–IV–V–I progression D–G–A–D. It suits bright, shimmering passages where the 9th adds sparkle without dissonance.

Changing to and from D add 9

Sliding the shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives C♯ add 9.
Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives E♭ add 9.

Which voicing to use

The E inversion at frets 2-4-2-5 puts the 9th in the bass, creating a suspended, airy feel. The F♯ inversion at frets 7-6-5-7 places the major 3rd lowest, giving a more grounded sound.

How do you play a D add 9 chord on ukulele?

Dadd9/E inversion · fret 2

Intermediate● On the diagram

D add 9 is played at the 2nd fret as 2 4 2 5: index finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the C string at fret 4, middle finger on the E string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.

Tip — The pinky must reach fret 5 on the A string while the index and middle hold fret 2 on adjacent strings.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	2	1	A (5)
3 (C)	4	3	E (9)
2 (E)	2	2	F♯ (3)
1 (A)	5	4	D (1)

Dadd9/E inversion · open position

Intermediate

D add 9 is played in open position as 7 6 0 0: middle finger on the G string at fret 7 and index finger on the C string at fret 6. The E and A strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	7	2	D (1)
3 (C)	6	1	F♯ (3)
2 (E)	open	—	E (9)
1 (A)	open	—	A (5)

Dadd9/F♯ inversion

Intermediate

D add 9 is played at the 5th fret as 7 6 5 7: ring finger on the G string at fret 7, middle finger on the C string at fret 6, index finger on the E string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 7.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	7	3	D (1)
3 (C)	6	2	F♯ (3)
2 (E)	5	1	A (5)
1 (A)	7	4	E (9)

Dadd9/A inversion

Intermediate

D add 9 is played at the 9th fret as 9 9 10 9: index finger on the G string at fret 9, middle finger on the C string at fret 9, pinky finger on the E string at fret 10 and ring finger on the A string at fret 9.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	9	1	E (9)
3 (C)	9	2	A (5)
2 (E)	10	4	D (1)
1 (A)	9	3	F♯ (3)

Common questions

How is D add 9 written?

D add 9 is written Dadd9 or D.

How does this supplied chord create its distinctive sound?

D add 9 uses F♯ because it is the major 3rd of D. F♯ is the correct spelling in the key of D major, which has two sharps.

What is the difference between D add 9 and D major 7th?

D add 9 contains the 9th (E) but no 7th. D major 7th contains the major 7th (C♯) but no 9th.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

A (5)

3 (C)

E (9)

2 (E)

F♯ (3)

1 (A)

D (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

D (1)

3 (C)

F♯ (3)

2 (E)

open

—

E (9)

1 (A)

open

—

A (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

D (1)

3 (C)

F♯ (3)

2 (E)

A (5)

1 (A)

E (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

E (9)

3 (C)

A (5)

2 (E)

D (1)

1 (A)

F♯ (3)