Eadd9
Eadd9
Notes
E · G♯ · B · F♯
Intervals
- RootE (1P)
- Major 3rdG♯ (3M)
- Perfect 5thB (5P)
- Major 9thF♯ (9M)
Fretboard
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About
The Eadd9 (E–G♯–B–F♯) 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 F♯ adds brightness and shimmer; the G♯ 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 EMaj9, add9 is simpler and more grounded — a major triad with a single added color. Compared to plain E, 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
- E Lydian (I)
- E Major (I)
- E Major Pentatonic (deg 1)
- E Mixolydian (I)
- A Lydian (V)
- A Major (V)
- A Melodic Minor (V)
- A♭ Locrian (VI)
- A♭ Natural Minor (VI)
- A♭ Phrygian (VI)
- B Dorian (IV)
- B Major (IV)
- B Melodic Minor (IV)
- B Mixolydian (IV)
- B♭ Locrian (V)
- D Lydian (II)
- D♭ Blues (deg 2)
- D♭ Dorian (III)
- D♭ Minor Pentatonic (deg 2)
- D♭ Natural Minor (III)
- D♭ Phrygian (III)
- E♭ Locrian (II)
- E♭ Phrygian (II)
- F♯ Dorian (VII)
- F♯ Mixolydian (VII)
- F♯ Natural Minor (VII)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.