added ninth chord · D root
Dadd9 chord
- D1
- F#3
- A5
- D1
- E9
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The D add 9 chord is built from the notes D, F#, A, D, E. It turns up 5 times in the 104 songs on this site, including A Horse with No Name.
By Chiye · Updated
What is the Dadd9 chord?
The Dadd9 chord (D add 9) is an added ninth chord built from five notes: D, F#, A, D, E — the 1–3–5–9 of the D scale, 4 semitones and 7 semitones and 14 semitones above the root. On guitar it is most often played in open position (x-5-4-2-3-0) with 4 fretted strings while 1 string rings open and the low E string stays silent. It is rated beginner — most players learn it in their first weeks. A major triad with the second scale degree stacked an octave up, which adds an open, ringing top note without touching the major third underneath. Across the 104 song sheets in this site's library, Dadd9 appears 5 times in 1 song, most often in the key of Em, and the chord it most often moves to is D. Below you will find step-by-step fingering, audio of every shape, and the real progressions this chord lives inside.
How do you play the Dadd9 chord on guitar?
Open position — the easiest version of Dadd9 on the guitar.
- Press the A string at fret 5 with your pinky finger.
- Press the D string at fret 4 with your ring finger.
- Press the G string at fret 2 with your index finger.
- Press the B string at fret 3 with your middle finger.
- Start your strum on the A string and do not play the low E string at all.
The x mark is part of the shape, not an accident: the chord only sounds right when low E stays silent. Instead of aiming your pick around that string, let the string next to it rest on it and damp it. x-5-4-2-3-0
How do you make Dadd9 sound clean?
Dadd9 needs F# as well as D, A and E. The short D shape with the high E open is Dsus2; use x-5-4-2-3-0 here to retain the major third on the D string.
Compare Dsus2 x-x-0-2-3-0 with Dadd9 x-5-4-2-3-0. Keep the upper three strings the same, then add D and F# on the lower strings.
In real songs
What songs use the Dadd9 chord?
- chord changes
- 5
- songs
- 1
- common keys
- Em
Across the 104 chord sheets on this site, Dadd9 appears 5 times in 1 song — most often in the key of Em.
EmD6EmDadd9
EmD6EmDadd9
Asus2DDadd9D
Chord flow
What chord comes after Dadd9?
Every number here is a count from the progressions in our song sheets, not a generalisation: 1879 chord changes are behind these figures.
Three-chord moves
Three-chord moves are where a chord really shows its character. These are the ones that actually happen in this library, counted from the sheets:
The theory behind Dadd9
Dadd9 is spelled D – F# – A – D – E — the 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 of the D scale, which is the root plus 4 semitones, 7 semitones, 14 semitones. A major triad with the second scale degree stacked an octave up, which adds an open, ringing top note without touching the major third underneath.
The ninth is the second scale degree an octave up, so Dadd9 keeps its major quality and gains an open, ringing top note. It is the difference between a plain strummed chord and the shimmer you hear on acoustic records.
What key is the Dadd9 chord in?
Dadd9 is the D major triad with the ninth added on top, so it fills the same three slots as the plain triad: the I chord in D major, the IV in A major and the V in G major.
the home chord — songs resolve here
the subdominant — the chord that leaves home
the dominant — the chord that pulls back home
Dadd9 on other instruments
D – F# – A – D – E — the highlighted black keys are the sharps or flats; play each note once, then move them into one hand position.
Take it to the practice room
