About the Aadd9 chord
An add9 is a major chord with the ninth added and no seventh. It is bright and shimmering, and a favourite in pop and acoustic playing. The symbol for it is Aadd9.
How to play Aadd9
- Lay your index finger flat across the top 5 strings at fret 2, pressing just behind the fret.
- Put your middle finger on the low E string at fret 5.
- Put your ring finger on the high E string at fret 5.
- Strum all six strings.
1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 little
Chords in the key of A major
These are the chords built on each note of the A major scale, so they all sound good together with Aadd9. The Roman numeral under each one is its position in the key.
Other A chords
Aadd9 chord questions
What notes are in a Aadd9 chord?
Aadd9 is made of A, C♯, E and B. In intervals that is 1, 3, 5, 9 above the root, A.
What is the easiest way to play Aadd9?
The first shape above is the most common one: 5 2 2 2 2 5 from the low E string to the high E, where x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. Start there, and try the other shapes once it feels comfortable.
Is Aadd9 a barre chord?
The main shape uses a barre, where one finger holds down several strings at once. Press just behind the fret and roll the finger slightly onto its side.