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Eadd9

Character: shimmering

  1. ERtriad
  2. G♯3triad
  3. B5triad
  4. F♯9add
Open Eadd9 in the chord libraryDownload the Eadd9 chart (PDF)
Voicings

6 ways to play Eadd9

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 Eadd9/G♯
2 3 4 5 6 7 9 R 5 3

Frets x x 6 4 5 2Notes G♯ B E F♯Intervals 3 5 1 9Base triadE major, 1st inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

CC shape Root position Eadd9
4 5 6 7 9 5 3 R R R

Frets 0 7 6 4 7 0Notes E G♯ B F♯Intervals 1 3 5 9Base triadE major, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position Eadd9
9 10 11 12 9 5 3 R R 5

Frets 12 11 9 11 0 0Notes E G♯ B F♯Intervals 1 3 5 9Base triadE major, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape Root position Eadd9
1 2 3 4 9 5 3 R 5 R

Frets 0 2 2 1 0 2Notes E G♯ B F♯Intervals 1 3 5 9Base triadE major, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 2nd inversion Eadd9/B
1 2 3 4 9 3 R 5 5 R

Frets 0 2 2 1 0 2Notes B E G♯ F♯Intervals 5 1 3 9Base triadE major, 2nd inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 1st inversion AnchoredEadd9
1 2 3 4 R 9 5 3 R 5 R

Frets 0 2 2 1 0 2Notes E G♯ B F♯Intervals 1 3 5 9Base triadE major, 1st inversion

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

The rules

The construction rules Eadd9 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.

Add 9 in every key

More chords on E

Eadd9 chord questions

What notes are in Eadd9?

Eadd9 is spelled E G♯ B F♯: E is the root, G♯ is the 3rd, B is the 5th, F♯ is the 9th.

What is the formula of Eadd9?

1 3 5 9. It is a E major triad with the 9th stacked on top.

How many ways can you play Eadd9 on guitar?

This page shows 6 voicings of Eadd9, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.