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B♭add9 chord on guitar

B♭add9 (B♭ add nine) is B♭, D, F and C. The easiest way to play it is the open B♭add9 chord, written x10311. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 2nd string, 1st fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 1st string, 1st fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 3rd fret. Let the 4th string ring open. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

B♭add9

B♭ add nine · B♭ D F C · 1 3 5 9

  • Open position

    Open chord

    1423B♭DB♭CF

    x10311

  • 10th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    10fr3214B♭DFC

    x-13-12-10-13-x

  • 12th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    12fr21433B♭DB♭CF

    x-13-12-15-13-13

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 B♭add9

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. Open chord · Open position

    x10311
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 1st fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 2nd string, 1st fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 1st string, 1st fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 3rd fret.
    • Let the 4th string ring open.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

  2. 2. Root on the 5th string · 10th fret

    x-13-12-10-13-x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 10th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 12th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 13th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 13th 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.

  3. 3. Root on the 5th string · 12th fret

    x-13-12-15-13-13
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 12th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 13th fret.
    • Lay your 3rd finger (ring) flat across the 2nd and 1st strings at the 13th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 15th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

Notes in the B♭add9 chord

B♭add9 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 B♭add9 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after B♭add9

Fxx3211B♭add9 to F is I to V, a bright pop move.E♭add9x6536xB♭add9 to E♭add9 is I to IV, both with the ninth on top.Gm7353333B♭add9 to Gm7 is I to vi7, soft and open.

More guitar chords

Other chords on B♭

B♭B♭mB♭7B♭maj7B♭m7B♭sus2B♭sus4B♭9B♭6A♯dimA♯m7♭5A♯dim7B♭aug

Add nine chords on other notes

Cadd9D♭add9Dadd9E♭add9Eadd9Fadd9F♯add9Gadd9A♭add9Aadd9Badd9

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you play B♭add9 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is the open B♭add9 chord, written x10311. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 2nd string, 1st fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 1st string, 1st fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 3rd fret. Let the 4th string ring open. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

What notes are in the B♭add9 chord?

B♭add9 is B♭, D, F and C. In the shape written x10311, the 5th to 1st strings play B♭, D, B♭, C and F.

Is B♭add9 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

How many ways can you play B♭add9 on guitar?

This page shows three: x10311 (open position), x-13-12-10-13-x (10th fret) and x-13-12-15-13-13 (12th 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 B♭add9?

Yes. “Make a beat in B♭ major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B♭ major on B♭ F Gm E♭, the key where B♭add9 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 Gm E♭, the key where B♭add9 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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