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Added Ninth Chord

 

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Last updated on: 2009-08-19 1:45 PM

An added ninth chord (also called a sus2 chord, see next paragraph) is composed using a root/1st, major 3rd, perfect 5th and major 9th (or R/1-3-5-9) intervals played simultaneously. Generally written as Cadd9 or C(add9), it is good practice to simply use an uppercase C, followed by a superscripted add9 to represent it in writing (ie: Cadd9).

In order for a chord to be called an add9 chord it must not contain a seventh degree whether it be major, minor or diminished. This lessens the overall "major" feel of the chord and also opens up some melodic possibilities that would otherwise be unavailable. Some texts refer to the add9 chord as being equivalent to a sus2 chord however this is incorrect, the sus2 chord infers there is no third degree present in the voicing, where as the add9 chord does have a third present and it is presumed that the added ninth interval should come from the second octave above the root, however in practice this is not always the case.

Added Ninth Chord Profile

Intervals root/1st, major 3rd, perfect 5th, major 9th or R/1-3-5-9
Stability Consonant / Resolved
Grouping Class Tetrad
Common Names (examples in C) Cadd9, C(add9), Csus2, Cadd2

Added Ninth Chord Voicings

The chord voicings below are not shown in any particular key, they are shapes which can be moved around the guitar neck freely using the root note (circled dot) as your navigator. See example below.

  • How to use
  • As an example, let's say you require a D major chord
  • After playing all the chord voicings, you decide on voicing #2
  • Voicing #2 has it's root on the 5th string so you need to find the D note on this string
  • Click the notes on the neck chart tab and find the D note on the 5th fret (5th string)
  • Now play D major using voicing #2 on the 5th fret
  • Use the Octave chart tab to help you remember which notes are where
  • Use the Chord chart help tab if your a beginner at reading chord boxes
Added ninth chord voicings
Chord chart help
Notes on the guitar neck chart (lite version)
Octaves chart

Using octaves to learn notes on the guitar neck

  1. First determine which chord you require, let's use a B major chord in this example.
  2. We know the root note is B, (if it were an A major chord the root note would be A and for Cma7 it would be C, etc etc)
  3. Using the notes on the guitar neck chart, find the B note on the 6th string, 7th fret.
  4. Now using the major chord voicings chart, look for voicing #4 which has it's root note on the 6th string and play it, your done!
  5. Remember, learning and memorizing notes, chord voicings and scales in this way will improve your playing skills, theoretical knowledge and desirability as a band member.

Added Ninth Chord Audio Sample(s)

To download audio sample(s) for later listening, right click on the MP3 link, then from the context menu that appears select Save Target As (Internet Explorer) or Save Link As (Firefox).

Audio Sample Name Flash MP3
C Added Ninth Chord voicing #4 c-added-ninth-chord-voicing-4.mp3

Related Lessons & Resources

External Resources