Also written E♭add9, E♭ or E♭ Add 9th
E♭ add 9 contains E♭, G, B♭, and F. The open voicing stretches the fretting hand across three frets, making it a demanding first shape.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E♭ add 9 is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 9 — E♭, G, B♭, F. The major 2nd between E♭ and F adds the airy ninth colour to the plain E♭ major triad. This voicing keeps the root on the bottom and the ninth on top.
E♭ add 9 works as the I chord in E♭ major, especially in the I–IV–V–I progression: E♭ major–A♭ major–B♭ major–E♭ major. Its open, ringing quality suits ballads and folk-style strumming. Use it to add colour to a plain E♭ major without changing the harmony.
The open position is the easiest and most resonant, with the root E♭ on the bottom. The E♭add9/F inversion puts the ninth in the bass for a suspended, floating sound. The E♭add9/G inversion places the third in the bass, giving a slightly darker colour.
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.
Tip — The ring finger must fret the C string cleanly at fret 3 while the index and middle fingers hold fret 1 on the two highest strings.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (3) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (9) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
E♭ add 9 is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 3 6: index finger on the G string at fret 3, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, middle finger on the E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 3 | F (9) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (3) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
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.
| 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 (9) |
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.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (9) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (3) |
E♭ add 9 is played in open position as 0 5 6 6: index finger on the C string at fret 5, middle finger on the E string at fret 6 and ring finger on the A string at fret 6. The G string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (3) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 1 | F (9) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
E♭ add 9 is written as E♭add9, or sometimes just E♭. In ASCII, the root is spelled Eb, so Ebadd9 works in text. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
E♭ add 9 adds the ninth (F) to the major triad, while E♭ major 7th adds the major seventh (D). The add 9 chord has a brighter, more open sound because the ninth is a step above the root.
The open G string is the major third of the chord, so it is a chord tone. It is left open to keep the voicing full and to avoid muting a note that belongs in the harmony.
Yes, there are inversions with F, G, or B♭ in the bass. These change the register and the bass note, which alters the chord's colour while keeping the same four notes.