Aadd9 Guitar Chord

Aadd9 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

Shape 1/2

Chord shapes:(2 positions)

Standard

Arpeggio for this shape

P - i - m - a - m - i · Smooth Bossa (2/4 · 6 notes · Level 2)

From the bass on the 5th to the 1st string there are 4 different notes. Six plucks give time to hear them. All 6 arpeggios

Subtle syncopation and oscillating timbre.

Speed:

What sets Aadd9 apart

The notes of Aadd9 are A, C#, E and B. A is the root, C# the major third, E the fifth and B the ninth. Said aloud, its notes are A, C sharp, E and B.

From the low string to the high one you hear A, E, B, C# and E. The note heard most is E, twice. It is not the root but the fifth. The lowest note is A on string 5 and the highest is E on string 1.

Aadd9 lets two strings ring open. String 5 gives A and string 1 gives E. String 6 is not played. Everything fits between frets 2 and 4. The second shape on this page starts at fret 2.

A is one change away. String 3 moves from fret 4 to fret 2, bringing in A, the root of A. It shares two notes with F#m, A and C#. Going to Bm, one position stays the same.

Aadd9 shows up in six keys. In A major it is the Iadd9, in D major the Vadd9 and in E major the IVadd9. The rest appear in the key list.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

Recommended practice sequences

01A A - F#m - Bm - E7 02C#m C#m - A - F#m - G#7

Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Aadd9)

Formula: Major Added Ninth (1 - 3 - 5 - 9)

Constituent chord intervals:

A 1C# 3E 5B 9

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 0 (A)

String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Aadd9:

Select each shape in the diagram above to view and listen to it

Standard

Standard Position

5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)

String Control (Muted & Active):

6th String (Low E)

×Muted

Do not play

Root

5th String (A)

○Open

ADegree 1

4th String (D)

Fret 2Finger 1

EDegree 5

3rd String (G)

Fret 4Finger 3

BDegree 9

2nd String (B)

Fret 2Finger 2

C#Degree 3

1st String (High E)

○Open

EDegree 5

Placement tip: Press: 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 4 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 2 with your Middle finger. Play open: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E). Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

Open 3

Barre fret 2

5 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)

String Control (Muted & Active):

Root

6th String (Low E)

Fret 5Finger 4

ADegree 1

5th String (A)

Fret 4Finger 3

C#Degree 3

4th String (D)

Fret 2Barre

EDegree 5

3rd String (G)

Fret 4Finger 2

BDegree 9

2nd String (B)

Fret 2Barre

C#Degree 3

1st String (High E)

×Muted

Do not play

Placement tip: Barre fret 2. Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 5 with your Pinky finger, 5th String (A) at fret 4 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 4 with your Middle finger. Don't play: 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Aadd9)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

Item	In this chord
Frets	2 to 4
Fretting fingers	3
Open	5th and 1st
Muted	6th

What to check

The open 5th and 1st strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Aadd9

Listen: Aadd9 → A · Bm · E7

Aadd9
A
Aadd9
Bm
Aadd9
E7

Aadd9 → A01

Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays

Stay in place

finger 1: string 4, fret 2

Move

finger 2: string 3, fret 2
finger 3: string 2, fret 2

Aadd9 → Bm02

Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position

Stay in place

string 3, fret 4

Move

string 5, fret 2
string 4, fret 4
string 2, fret 3
string 1, fret 2

Aadd9 → E703

Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move

finger 2: string 5, fret 2
finger 1: string 3, fret 1

Aadd9 in every key

Aadd9 sits in the scale of 6 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty: 1/5
Highest fret: 4
Frets the hand covers: 3
Barre: No
Strings that ring: 5/6
Fretting fingers: 3

Major keys

Minor keys

Aadd9 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Aadd9)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Aadd9 chord?

To play the Aadd9 chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Aadd9 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Aadd9 chord is its root note: A. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Aadd9 chord and what is its formula?

The Aadd9 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - 9 formula (Major Added Ninth). Its constituent pitches are A, C#, E, B.

How do you prevent the Aadd9 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Aadd9 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Aadd9 chord diagram

Aadd9 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4

Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the A family:

Chord A Chord Ab Chord Am Chord A7 Chord Ab7 Chord Amaj7 Chord Abmaj7 Chord Am7