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Gmaj9

Character: lush

  1. GRtriad
  2. B3triad
  3. D5triad
  4. F♯7add
  5. A9add
Open Gmaj9 in the chord libraryDownload the Gmaj9 chart (PDF)
Voicings

3 ways to play Gmaj9

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 Root position Gmaj9
7 8 9 10 11 5 9 7 3 R

Frets x 10 9 11 10 xNotes G B F♯ AIntervals 1 3 7 9Base triadG major, root position

The 7th takes the 5th’s string. The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position Gmaj9
1 2 3 4 5 9 7 3 R 3

Frets 3 2 4 2 0 xNotes G B F♯ AIntervals 1 3 7 9Base triadG major, root position

The 7th takes the 5th’s string. The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape 1st inversion AnchoredGmaj9
1 2 3 4 R 7 9 5 3 R 3

Frets 3 2 0 2 0 2Notes G B D A F♯Intervals 1 3 5 9 7Base triadG major, 1st inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 7th gets a string of its own. The 9th takes the root’s string.

The rules

The construction rules Gmaj9 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. A third on top makes a 7th chord

    A major 7th over a major triad is maj7, a ♭7 is a dominant 7. Over minor you get m7 or m(maj7); over diminished, m7♭5 or the °7, whose 7th is lowered twice.

  3. Keep stacking for extensions

    The 9th, 11th and 13th are the 2nd, 4th and 6th an octave up. Each one sits on the stack below it: a 9th chord holds a 7th, a 13th holds the 9th and 11th in theory.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

Major 9th in every key

More chords on G

Gmaj9 chord questions

What notes are in Gmaj9?

Gmaj9 is spelled G B D F♯ A: G is the root, B is the 3rd, D is the 5th, F♯ is the 7th, A is the 9th.

What is the formula of Gmaj9?

1 3 5 7 9. It is a G major triad with the 7th, 9th stacked on top.

How many ways can you play Gmaj9 on guitar?

This page shows 3 voicings of Gmaj9, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.