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Badd9 chord on guitar

Badd9 (B add nine) is B, D♯, F♯ and C♯. The easiest way to play it is on the top five strings, written x21422. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 2nd fret. Lay your 3rd finger (ring) flat across the 2nd and 1st strings at the 2nd fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 4th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

Badd9

B add nine · B D♯ F♯ C♯ · 1 3 5 9

  • 1st fret

    Root on the 5th string

    21433BD♯BC♯F♯

    x21422

  • 11th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    11fr3214BD♯F♯C♯

    x-14-13-11-14-x

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are B, the root.

How to play Badd9

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Root on the 5th string · 1st fret

    x21422
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 1st fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 2nd fret.
    • Lay your 3rd finger (ring) flat across the 2nd and 1st strings at the 2nd fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 4th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

  2. 2. Root on the 5th string · 11th fret

    x-14-13-11-14-x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 11th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 13th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 14th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 14th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
    • Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

Notes in the Badd9 chord

Badd9 is B, D♯, F♯ and C♯, and it sounds bright, like a major chord with a shimmer on top. From B, count 4 half steps up to D♯, 3 more to F♯ and 7 more to C♯. Its formula is 1 3 5 9. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with B lowest. See its inversions and keys on the Badd9 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after Badd9

F♯xx4322Badd9 to F♯ is I to V, a bright pop move.Eadd9024100Badd9 to Eadd9 is I to IV, both with the ninth on top.G♯m7464444Badd9 to G♯m7 is I to vi7, soft and open.

More guitar chords

Other chords on B

BBmB7Bmaj7Bm7Bsus2Bsus4B9B6BdimBm7♭5Bdim7Baug

Add nine chords on other notes

Cadd9D♭add9Dadd9E♭add9Eadd9Fadd9F♯add9Gadd9A♭add9Aadd9B♭add9

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Badd9 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on the top five strings, written x21422. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 2nd fret. Lay your 3rd finger (ring) flat across the 2nd and 1st strings at the 2nd fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 4th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

What notes are in the Badd9 chord?

Badd9 is B, D♯, F♯ and C♯. In the shape written x21422, the 5th to 1st strings play B, D♯, B, C♯ and F♯.

Is Badd9 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

How many ways can you play Badd9 on guitar?

This page shows two: x21422 (1st fret) and x-14-13-11-14-x (11th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with Badd9?

Yes. “Make a beat in B major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B major on B F♯ G♯m E, the key where Badd9 is the Iadd9 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in B major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B major on B F♯ G♯m E, the key where Badd9 is the Iadd9 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in B majorAll guitar chords

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