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Guitar chords · Add 9

F♯add9 chord on guitar (F#add9)

F♯add9 (F♯ add 9) has four notes: F♯, A♯, C♯ and G♯, the , 3, 5 and 9.

Shapes

How to play F♯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.

F♯add9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 9. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 9

    9fr××R593F♯C♯G♯A♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes F♯add9 add 9

An add9 chord is a major chord with the 9th (the 2nd, an up) added on top. Unlike a sus2, it keeps its 3rd, so it still sounds major, just brighter and more open.

  • 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 F♯add9 an add 9 chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. F♯Rroot
  2. A♯3essential
  3. C♯5optional
  4. G♯9essential
EADGBE0135791215F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯G♯A♯C♯A♯C♯G♯A♯G♯A♯C♯G♯A♯C♯G♯A♯C♯G♯A♯C♯G♯A♯C♯
  • F♯, the root
  • Other chord tones

F♯add9 and G♭add9 are the same chord with two names: same , same sound. Which one you see depends on the key the song is written in.

Keys

Keys with F♯add9

F♯add9 belongs to six keys: B major (Vadd9), F♯ major (Iadd9), C♯ major (IVadd9), G♯ minor (VIIadd9), D♯ minor (IIIadd9) and A♯ minor (VIadd9).

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

F♯add9 over another bass note

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

  • F♯add9/A♯

    F♯add9 with its 3rd, A♯, in the bass.

  • F♯add9/C♯

    F♯add9 with its 5th, C♯, in the bass.

Questions

F♯add9, in short

What notes are in the F♯add9 chord?
F♯add9 (F♯ add 9) has four notes: F♯, A♯, C♯ and G♯, the , 3, 5 and 9.
How do you play F♯add9 on guitar?
F♯add9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 9.
What key is F♯add9 in?
F♯add9 belongs to six keys: B major (Vadd9), F♯ major (Iadd9), C♯ major (IVadd9), G♯ minor (VIIadd9), D♯ minor (IIIadd9) and A♯ minor (VIadd9).
Is F♯add9 the same as G♭add9?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. F♯add9 is the spelling in B major, F♯ major, C♯ major, G♯ minor, D♯ minor and A♯ minor; G♭add9 in C♭ major, G♭ major, D♭ major, A♭ minor, E♭ minor and B♭ minor.
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