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Gadd9

Character: shimmering

  1. GRtriad
  2. B3triad
  3. D5triad
  4. A9add
Open Gadd9 in the chord libraryDownload the Gadd9 chart (PDF)
Voicings

5 ways to play Gadd9

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 Gadd9/B
5 6 7 8 9 10 9 R 5 3

Frets x x 9 7 8 5Notes B D G AIntervals 3 5 1 9Base triadG major, 1st inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

CC shape Root position Gadd9
7 8 9 10 9 5 3 R 3

Frets x 10 9 7 10 7Notes G B D AIntervals 1 3 5 9Base triadG major, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position Gadd9
1 2 3 4 9 5 3 R R 3

Frets 3 2 0 2 0 3Notes G B D AIntervals 1 3 5 9Base triadG major, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape 1st inversion AnchoredGadd9
1 2 3 4 R 9 5 3 R R 3

Frets 3 2 0 2 0 3Notes G B D AIntervals 1 3 5 9Base triadG major, 1st inversion

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

EE shape Root position Gadd9
1 2 3 4 5 9 5 3 R 5 R

Frets 3 5 5 4 3 5Notes G B D AIntervals 1 3 5 9Base triadG major, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

The rules

The construction rules Gadd9 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 G

Gadd9 chord questions

What notes are in Gadd9?

Gadd9 is spelled G B D A: G is the root, B is the 3rd, D is the 5th, A is the 9th.

What is the formula of Gadd9?

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

How many ways can you play Gadd9 on guitar?

This page shows 5 voicings of Gadd9, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.