added ninth chord · E root
Eadd9 chord
- E1
- B5
- E1
- G#3
- B5
- F#9
More actions
The E add 9 chord is built from the notes E, B, E, G#, B, F#. It turns up 6 times in the 80 songs on this site, including Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown).
By Chiye · Updated
What is the Eadd9 chord?
The Eadd9 chord (E add 9) is an added ninth chord built from six notes: E, B, E, G#, B, F# — the 1–3–5–9 of the E scale, 4 semitones and 7 semitones and 14 semitones above the root. On guitar it is most often played in open position (0-2-2-1-0-2) with 4 fingers while 2 strings ring open. 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. It is one of the most-used chords in this site's library: across the 80 song sheets charted here, Eadd9 appears 6 times in 1 song, most often in the key of E, and the chord it most often moves to is E. 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 Eadd9 chord on guitar?
Open position — the easiest version of Eadd9 on the guitar.
- Press the A string at fret 2 with your middle finger.
- Press the D string at fret 2 with your ring finger.
- Press the G string at fret 1 with your index finger.
- Press the high E string at fret 2 with your pinky finger.
- Strum all six strings and let every one ring.
If it buzzes, the usual cause is a fingertip sitting in the middle of the fret space instead of just behind the wire. Move the whole hand a few millimetres toward the bridge and the buzz usually disappears without any extra pressure. 0-2-2-1-0-2
How do you make Eadd9 sound clean?
Eadd9 is usually played with the G and B strings fretted instead of left open.
E → Eadd9 → A: the added ninth is a colour, not a new shape.
In real songs
What songs use the Eadd9 chord?
- chord changes
- 6
- songs
- 1
- common keys
- E
Across the 80 chord sheets on this site, Eadd9 appears 6 times in 1 song — most often in the key of E.
EEadd9Fadd9E
EEadd9ED
EEadd9Fadd9E
Chord flow
What chord comes after Eadd9?
Those figures are counted from the 80 chord sheets on this site, so they describe what songwriters actually played rather than what theory says should come next.
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 Eadd9
Eadd9 is spelled E – B – E – G# – B – F# — the 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 of the E 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 Eadd9 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 Eadd9 chord in?
Eadd9 is the E major triad with the ninth added on top, so it fills the same three slots as the plain triad: the I chord in E major, the IV in B major and the V in A major.
the home chord — songs resolve here
the subdominant — the chord that leaves home
the dominant — the chord that pulls back home
Eadd9 on other instruments
E – B – E – G# – B – F# — 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
