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B♭madd9

Character: tender

  1. B♭Rtriad
  2. D♭♭3triad
  3. F5triad
  4. C9add
Open B♭madd9 in the chord libraryDownload the B♭madd9 chart (PDF)
Voicings

5 ways to play B♭madd9

Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.

  • Triad note
  • Substitute
  • Added
  • Anchored root
  • Bass
  • Doubling
CC shape 1st inversion B♭madd9/D♭
8 9 10 11 12 13 9 R 5 ♭3

Frets x x 11 10 11 8Notes D♭ F B♭ CIntervals ♭3 5 1 9Base triadB♭ minor, 1st inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape 1st inversion B♭madd9/D♭
1 2 3 4 5 6 9 R 5 ♭3

Frets x 4 3 3 1 xNotes D♭ F B♭ CIntervals ♭3 5 1 9Base triadB♭ minor, 1st inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position B♭madd9
3 4 5 6 9 5 ♭3 R R 5

Frets 6 4 3 5 6 6Notes B♭ D♭ F CIntervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadB♭ minor, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape Root position B♭madd9
6 7 8 9 9 5 ♭3 R 5 R

Frets 6 8 8 6 6 8Notes B♭ D♭ F CIntervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadB♭ minor, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 2nd inversion AnchoredB♭madd9
6 7 8 9 10 R ♭3 9 5 R R 5

Frets 6 8 10 6 6 6Notes B♭ F C D♭Intervals 1 5 9 ♭3Base triadB♭ minor, 2nd inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 9th takes the root’s string.

The rules

The construction rules B♭madd9 follows

  1. Start from a triad

    Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.

  2. No 7th, no stack

    6, add9, add11 and 6/9 are a triad with a colour note, not a stack. Without a 7th the chord sounds open rather than jazzy.

  3. On guitar, something has to give

    Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.

  4. The root can move down

    When an extension needs the root’s string, the root can drop to the string below the triad: an anchored voicing keeps the bass and frees a string on top.

All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.

Minor add 9 in every key

More chords on B♭

B♭madd9 chord questions

What notes are in B♭madd9?

B♭madd9 is spelled B♭ D♭ F C: B♭ is the root, D♭ is the ♭3rd, F is the 5th, C is the 9th.

What is the formula of B♭madd9?

1 ♭3 5 9. It is a B♭ minor triad with the 9th stacked on top.

How many ways can you play B♭madd9 on guitar?

This page shows 5 voicings of B♭madd9, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.