Aadd9
Aadd9
Notes
A · C♯ · E · B
Intervals
- RootA (1P)
- Major 3rdC♯ (3M)
- Perfect 5thE (5P)
- Major 9thB (9M)
Fretboard
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About
The Aadd9 (A–C♯–E–B) adds a ninth to a major triad without including a 7th. The distinction matters: because there is no 7th, the chord stays harmonically stable and resolved rather than suggesting dominant or subdominant motion. The B adds brightness and shimmer; the C♯ retains the major identity. On guitar, open-string voicings make add9 sounds particularly resonant. The 5th can be omitted without loss; the 3rd and 9th are both essential. Compared to AMaj9, add9 is simpler and more grounded — a major triad with a single added color. Compared to plain A, the 9th adds a touch of modern shimmer.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- A Lydian (I)
- A Major (I)
- A Major Pentatonic (deg 1)
- A Mixolydian (I)
- A♭ Locrian (II)
- A♭ Phrygian (II)
- B Dorian (VII)
- B Mixolydian (VII)
- B Natural Minor (VII)
- D Lydian (V)
- D Major (V)
- D Melodic Minor (V)
- D♭ Locrian (VI)
- D♭ Natural Minor (VI)
- D♭ Phrygian (VI)
- E Dorian (IV)
- E Major (IV)
- E Melodic Minor (IV)
- E Mixolydian (IV)
- E♭ Locrian (V)
- F♯ Blues (deg 2)
- F♯ Dorian (III)
- F♯ Minor Pentatonic (deg 2)
- F♯ Natural Minor (III)
- F♯ Phrygian (III)
- G Lydian (II)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.