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E♭add9 chord on guitar

E♭add9 (E♭ add nine) is E♭, G, B♭ and F. The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x6536x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 3rd fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 5th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 6th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 6th 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.

E♭add9

E♭ add nine · E♭ G B♭ F · 1 3 5 9

  • 3rd fret

    Root on the 5th string

    3fr3214E♭GB♭F

    x6536x

  • 5th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    5fr21433E♭GE♭FB♭

    x65866

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 E♭, the root.

How to play E♭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. Root on the 5th string · 3rd fret

    x6536x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 3rd fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 5th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 6th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 6th 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.

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

    x65866
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 5th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 6th fret.
    • Lay your 3rd finger (ring) flat across the 2nd and 1st strings at the 6th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 8th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

Notes in the E♭add9 chord

E♭add9 is E♭, G, B♭ and F, and it sounds bright, like a major chord with a shimmer on top. From E♭, count 4 half steps up to G, 3 more to B♭ and 7 more to F. 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 E♭ lowest. See its inversions and keys on the E♭add9 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after E♭add9

B♭x13331E♭add9 to B♭ is I to V, a bright pop move.A♭add9x-11-10-8-11-xE♭add9 to A♭add9 is I to IV, both with the ninth on top.Cm7x35343E♭add9 to Cm7 is I to vi7, soft and open.

More guitar chords

Other chords on E♭

E♭E♭mE♭7E♭maj7E♭m7E♭sus2E♭sus4E♭9E♭6D♯dimD♯m7♭5D♯dim7E♭aug

Add nine chords on other notes

Cadd9D♭add9Dadd9Eadd9Fadd9F♯add9Gadd9A♭add9Aadd9B♭add9Badd9

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you play E♭add9 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x6536x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 3rd fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 5th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 6th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 6th 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.

What notes are in the E♭add9 chord?

E♭add9 is E♭, G, B♭ and F. In the shape written x6536x, the 5th to 2nd strings play E♭, G, B♭ and F.

Is E♭add9 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

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

This page shows two: x6536x (3rd fret) and x65866 (5th 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 E♭add9?

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

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in E♭ major on E♭ B♭ Cm A♭, the key where E♭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 E♭ majorAll guitar chords

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