A♭madd9
A♭madd9
Notes
A♭ · C♭ · E♭ · B♭
Intervals
- RootA♭ (1P)
- Minor 3rdC♭ (3m)
- Perfect 5thE♭ (5P)
- Major 9thB♭ (9M)
Fretboard
On the fretboard, B represents C♭.
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About
The A♭m(add9) (A♭–C♭–E♭–B♭) applies the same logic to a minor triad — the 9th is added directly, without a 7th, keeping the chord stable. The contrast between the dark C♭ and the bright B♭ gives madd9 its distinctive emotional complexity. This is not a jazzy sound — the absence of the ♭7 keeps it direct and song-oriented, which is why it is common in ballads and alternative music. The C♭ establishes the minor quality; the B♭ is the essential extension. The 5th can be dropped. Compared to A♭m9, madd9 is less harmonically fluid and more immediate.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- A♭ Dorian (I)
- A♭ Harmonic Minor (I)
- A♭ Melodic Minor (I)
- A♭ Natural Minor (I)
- B Lydian (VI)
- B Major (VI)
- B♭ Locrian (VII)
- B♭ Phrygian (VII)
- D♭ Dorian (V)
- D♭ Mixolydian (V)
- E Lydian (III)
- E♭ Harmonic Minor (IV)
- E♭ Natural Minor (IV)
- E♭ Phrygian (IV)
- F Blues (deg 2)
- F Locrian (III)
- F♯ Major (II)
- F♯ Mixolydian (II)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.