Explore chords · Ukulele
E♭ add 9 chord on ukulele (E♭add9)
Also called or written E♭add9, E♭ or E♭ Add 9th
E♭ add 9 is built from E♭, G, B♭, and F. The 6th-fret voicing is the default, but the open E♭add9/G inversion offers an easier alternative.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 9
- Root positionE♭–G–B♭–FE♭add90-3-1-1
- First inversionG–B♭–F–E♭E♭add9/G8-7-6-8
- Second inversionB♭–F–E♭–GE♭add9/B♭10-10-11-10
- Third inversionF–E♭–G–B♭E♭add9/F10-10-11-10
How do you play an E♭ add 9 chord on ukulele?
E♭ add 9 is played at the 6th fret as 8 7 6 8: ring finger on the G string at fret 8, middle finger on the C string at fret 7, index finger on the E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 2 | G (3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (2) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the A string at fret 8 while the ring finger holds the G string at the same fret, stretching the hand.
Open
E♭ add 9 is played in open position as 0 3 1 1: ring finger on the C string at fret 3, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (3) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (2) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
E♭add9/B♭ inversion
E♭ add 9 is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 11 10: index finger on the G string at fret 10, middle finger on the C string at fret 10, pinky finger on the E string at fret 11 and ring finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (2) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (3) |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ add 9 uses the formula 1, 3, 5, 9. The major 2nd between E♭ and F adds a gentle suspension to the major triad. Compare E♭ add 9 with E♭ major, which omits the 9th for a plainer sound.
What goes wrong with E♭ add 9?
- The pinky collapses and mutes the A string, losing the 9th.
- The index finger on the E string leans back and deadens the C string.
- The ring finger on the G string buzzes because it is not close enough to the fret wire.
When to use it
E♭ add 9 acts as the tonic in E♭ major, fitting the I–IV–V–I progression E♭–A♭–B♭–E♭. Its bright, ringing quality suits jazz and ballads. Use E♭ add 9 to replace E♭ major for a more expansive sound.
Changing to and from E♭ add 9
- From E♭ add 9 to D add 9, slide the entire shape down one fret to the 5th fret.
- From E♭ add 9 to E add 9, slide the entire shape up one fret to the 7th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 6th-fret voicing keeps the root E♭ on the G string and is the standard shape. The E♭add9/G inversion at the open position places the 5th in the bass, creating a warmer, more grounded sound that works well in strumming patterns.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ add 9 written?
E♭ add 9 is written as E♭add9 or E♭ add 9. The ASCII root is Eb, so Ebadd9 is also used. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between E♭ add 9 and E♭ major 7th?
E♭ add 9 contains the 9th (F) but no 7th. E♭ major 7th contains the 7th (D) but no 9th. The add 9 has a more open, suspended quality.
Can E♭ add 9 be played with a barre?
The 6th-fret voicing uses individual fingers, not a barre. The E♭add9/G inversion at the open position also uses individual fingers. No barre is required.