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Fmadd9

Character: tender

  1. FRtriad
  2. A♭♭3triad
  3. C5triad
  4. G9add
Open Fmadd9 in the chord libraryDownload the Fmadd9 chart (PDF)
Voicings

5 ways to play Fmadd9

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 Fmadd9/A♭
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R 5 ♭3

Frets x x 6 5 6 3Notes A♭ C F GIntervals ♭3 5 1 9Base triadF minor, 1st inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape 1st inversion Fmadd9/A♭
8 9 10 11 12 13 9 R 5 ♭3

Frets x 11 10 10 8 xNotes A♭ C F GIntervals ♭3 5 1 9Base triadF minor, 1st inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape Root position Fmadd9
1 2 3 4 9 5 ♭3 R 5 R

Frets 1 3 3 1 1 3Notes F A♭ C GIntervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadF minor, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 1st inversion Fmadd9/A♭
1 2 3 4 9 R 5 ♭3

Frets 4 3 3 0 x xNotes A♭ C F GIntervals ♭3 5 1 9Base triadF minor, 1st inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 2nd inversion AnchoredFmadd9
1 2 3 4 5 R ♭3 9 5 R R 5

Frets 1 3 5 1 1 1Notes F C G A♭Intervals 1 5 9 ♭3Base triadF minor, 2nd inversion

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

The rules

The construction rules Fmadd9 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 F

Fmadd9 chord questions

What notes are in Fmadd9?

Fmadd9 is spelled F A♭ C G: F is the root, A♭ is the ♭3rd, C is the 5th, G is the 9th.

What is the formula of Fmadd9?

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

How many ways can you play Fmadd9 on guitar?

This page shows 5 voicings of Fmadd9, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.