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Bmadd9

Character: tender

  1. BRtriad
  2. D♭3triad
  3. F♯5triad
  4. C♯9add
Open Bmadd9 in the chord libraryDownload the Bmadd9 chart (PDF)
Voicings

5 ways to play Bmadd9

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 Bmadd9/D
9 10 11 12 13 14 9 R 5 ♭3

Frets x x 12 11 12 9Notes D F♯ B C♯Intervals ♭3 5 1 9Base triadB minor, 1st inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape 1st inversion Bmadd9/D
2 3 4 5 6 7 9 R 5 ♭3

Frets x 5 4 4 2 xNotes D F♯ B C♯Intervals ♭3 5 1 9Base triadB minor, 1st inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position Bmadd9
4 5 6 7 9 5 ♭3 R R R

Frets 7 5 4 6 0 7Notes B D F♯ C♯Intervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadB minor, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape Root position Bmadd9
7 8 9 10 9 5 ♭3 R 5 R

Frets 7 9 9 7 7 9Notes B D F♯ C♯Intervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadB minor, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 2nd inversion AnchoredBmadd9
7 8 9 10 11 R ♭3 9 5 R R R

Frets 7 9 11 7 0 7Notes B F♯ C♯ DIntervals 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 Bmadd9 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

Bmadd9 chord questions

What notes are in Bmadd9?

Bmadd9 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 Bmadd9?

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

How many ways can you play Bmadd9 on guitar?

This page shows 5 voicings of Bmadd9, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.