CifraLab

Gadd9 Guitar Chord

Gadd9 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

Back to Chord Dictionary
Shape 1/3
Chord shapes:(3 positions)
Gadd9Guitar fingering diagram for Gadd912342134STRING6ªG5ªB4ªD3ªA2ªB1ªG
View HD sheet

What sets Gadd9 apart

The notes of Gadd9 are G, B, D and A. G is the root, B the major third, D the fifth and A the ninth.

From the low string to the high one you hear G, B, D, A, B and G. The root, G, shows up twice in the main shape. The lowest and highest notes are both G, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.

Gadd9 lets two strings ring open. String 4 gives D and string 2 gives B. Everything fits between frets 2 and 3. Besides the main one there are two more shapes, at frets 2 and 3.

G is one change away. String 3 is left open, bringing in G, the root of G. It shares two notes with Em, G and B. The change that keeps the most fingers still is to Em. One stays in place.

Gadd9 shows up in six keys. In G major it is the Iadd9, in C major the Vadd9 and in D major the IVadd9. The rest appear in the key list.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01G G - Em - Am - D702Bm Bm - G - Em - F#7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Gadd9)

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

G 1B 3D 5A 9

Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 3 (G)

String Control (Muted & Active)6 / 6 • Active and muted strings status indicator

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Gadd9:

01

Standard

Standard Position
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 3Finger 2
GDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 2Finger 1
BDegree 3
4th String (D)
○Open
DDegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 3
ADegree 9
2nd String (B)
○Open
BDegree 3
1st String (High E)
Fret 3Finger 4
GDegree 1

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 3 with your Middle finger, 5th String (A) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Ring finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 3 with your Pinky finger. Play open: 4th String (D), 2nd String (B).

02

Folk

Inversion
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 3Finger 2
GDegree 1
5th String (A)
○Open
ADegree 9
4th String (D)
○Open
DDegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 1
ADegree 9
2nd String (B)
○Open
BDegree 3
1st String (High E)
Fret 3Finger 3
GDegree 1

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 3 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 3 with your Ring finger. Play open: 5th String (A), 4th String (D), 2nd String (B).

03

Barre 3

Barre fret 3
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 3Barre
GDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 5Finger 2
DDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 7Finger 4
ADegree 9
3rd String (G)
Fret 4Finger 3
BDegree 3
2nd String (B)
Fret 3Barre
DDegree 5
1st String (High E)
Fret 3Barre
GDegree 1

Placement tip: Barre fret 3. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 5 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 7 with your Pinky finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 4 with your Ring finger.

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Gadd9)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets2 to 3
Fretting fingers4
Open4th and 2nd
Mutednone

What to check

The open 4th and 2nd strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Gadd9

Listen: Gadd9 → G · Em · Am

  1. Gadd9
  2. G
  3. Gadd9
  4. Em
  5. Gadd9
  6. Am
Gadd9 → G01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 fingers stay
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 6, fret 3
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
Move
  • finger 3: string 1, fret 3
Gadd9 → Em02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
Move
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Gadd9 → Am03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 3: string 3, fret 2
Move
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

Gadd9 in every key

Gadd9 sits in the scale of 6 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
2/5
Highest fret
3
Frets the hand covers
2
Barre
No
Strings that ring
6/6
Fretting fingers
4

Gadd9 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 (Gadd9)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Gadd9 chord?

To play the Gadd9 chord on guitar, all 6 strings are played from the 6th string (Low E) to the 1st string (High E). Arch your finger joints perpendicular to the fretboard so adjacent strings ring clearly.

What is the root bass note of the Gadd9 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Gadd9 chord is its root note: G. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 3.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Gadd9 chord and what is its formula?

The Gadd9 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - 9 formula (Major Added Ninth). Its constituent pitches are G, B, D, A.

How do you prevent the Gadd9 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Gadd9 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 Gadd9 chord diagram

Gadd9 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

Thanks for studying with CifraLab

If this chord helped you, support us with a coffee on Ko-fi.

Buy a coffee

Other chords in the G family:

Chord G Chord Gm Chord G#m Chord G7 Chord Gmaj7 Chord Gm7 Chord Gsus4 Chord G13