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Guitar chords · Minor add 9

Bm(add9) chord on guitar

Bm(add9) (B minor add 9) has four notes: B, D, F♯ and C♯, the , ♭3, 5 and 9.

Shapes

How to play Bm(add9)

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Bm(add9) has no common . Play it as the E shape at 7 or the A shape at fret 14. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • E shape · fret 7

    7frR59♭35RBF♯C♯DF♯B
  • A shape · fret 14

    11fr××R♭359BDF♯C♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Bm(add9) minor add 9

A minor add9 chord is a minor chord with the 9th added and no 7th. The 9th sits a above the , giving the minor chord a wistful, ringing colour heard in ballads and film music.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd and the 9th make Bm(add9) a minor add 9 chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. BRroot
  2. D♭3essential
  3. F♯5optional
  4. C♯9essential
EADGBE0135791215BBBBBBBBF♯C♯DF♯C♯DF♯DF♯C♯DC♯DF♯C♯DF♯C♯DF♯C♯DF♯
  • B, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Bm(add9)

Bm(add9) belongs to four keys: D major (vi(add9)), A major (ii(add9)), B minor (i(add9)) and F♯ minor (iv(add9)).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

Bm(add9) over another bass note

A keeps Bm(add9) on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Bm(add9)/D

    Bm(add9) with its ♭3rd, D, in the bass.

  • Bm(add9)/F♯

    Bm(add9) with its 5th, F♯, in the bass.

Questions

Bm(add9), in short

What notes are in the Bm(add9) chord?
Bm(add9) (B minor add 9) has four notes: B, D, F♯ and C♯, the , ♭3, 5 and 9.
How do you play Bm(add9) on guitar?
Bm(add9) has no common . Play it as the E shape at 7 or the A shape at fret 14.
What key is Bm(add9) in?
Bm(add9) belongs to four keys: D major (vi(add9)), A major (ii(add9)), B minor (i(add9)) and F♯ minor (iv(add9)).
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