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E♭ minor add 9 chord on ukulele (E♭madd9)
Also called or written E♭madd9, E♭m add9, E♭ or E♭ minor Add 9th
E♭ minor add 9 contains E♭, G♭, B♭, and F. The 6th fret voicing is a closed shape that works well in flat keys.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9
- Root positionE♭–G♭–B♭–FE♭madd98-6-6-8
- First inversionG♭–B♭–F–E♭E♭madd9/G♭8-6-6-8
- Second inversionB♭–F–E♭–G♭E♭madd9/B♭10-10-11-9
- Third inversionF–E♭–G♭–B♭E♭madd9/F10-10-11-9
How do you play an E♭ minor add 9 chord on ukulele?
E♭ minor add 9 is played at the 6th fret as 8 6 6 8: ring finger on the G string at fret 8, index finger on the C string at fret 6, middle 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) | 6 | 1 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (2) |
AdvancedThe 6th fret voicing requires a stretch between the index finger on the 6th fret and the pinky on the 8th fret of the A string.
E♭m add9/B♭ inversion
E♭ minor add 9 is played at the 9th fret as 10 10 11 9: middle finger on the G string at fret 10, ring finger on the C string at fret 10, pinky finger on the E string at fret 11 and index finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 2 | F (2) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 1 | G♭ (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ minor add 9 is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 9. The major 2nd interval between E♭ and F is the 9th that gives the chord its suspended, ringing quality. Compare it with E♭ minor, which lacks the 9th and sounds darker.
What goes wrong with E♭ minor add 9?
- Letting the pinky mute the E string, which removes the perfect 5th.
- Placing the middle finger too close to the index finger, causing the E 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 E♭ minor for a more modern sound.
Changing to and from E♭ minor add 9
- Move to E♭ minor by lifting the pinky and ring fingers, leaving the index and middle fingers on the 6th fret.
- Slide the shape up one fret to the 7th fret gives E minor add 9.
Which voicing to use
The 6th fret voicing keeps the root E♭ as the lowest note, providing a solid foundation. The E♭m add9/F inversion places the 9th F in the bass, creating a lighter, more ambiguous sound that works well when moving to a G♭ major chord.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ minor add 9 written?
E♭ minor add 9 is written as E♭m add9 or E♭ minor add 9. The ASCII root is Eb. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Can E♭ minor add 9 be used in a ballad?
Yes, E♭ minor add 9 works well in slow ballads. The added 9th creates a sense of longing that resolves nicely when the chord changes to the iv or v.
Why does the 6th fret voicing sound muddy on some ukuleles?
The close voicing of the upper notes can cause the 9th to clash with the minor 3rd if the intonation is off. Check that the C string is fretted cleanly at the 6th fret.