Gmadd9

Character: tender

Voicings

4 ways to play Gmadd9

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

CC shape 1st inversion Gmadd9/B♭

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

The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position Gmadd9

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

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape Root position Gmadd9

Frets 3 5 5 3 3 5Notes G B♭ D AIntervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadG minor, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 2nd inversion AnchoredGmadd9

Frets 3 5 7 3 3 3Notes G D A B♭Intervals 1 5 9 ♭3Base triadG minor, 2nd inversion

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

The rules

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.
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.
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.
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.

What notes are in Gmadd9?

Gmadd9 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 Gmadd9?

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

How many ways can you play Gmadd9 on guitar?

This page shows 4 voicings of Gmadd9, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.