E Major 9th
Emaj9
Notes
E · G♯ · B · D♯ · F♯
Intervals
- RootE (1P)
- Major 3rdG♯ (3M)
- Perfect 5thB (5P)
- Major 7thD♯ (7M)
- Major 9thF♯ (9M)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
Voicings & shapes
Rootless voicings (A / B form) (4)
About
The E major 9th (E–G♯–B–D♯–F♯) extends a maj7 with a ninth. The result combines the gentle shimmer of the major-7 interval with the openness of the F♯. The 3rd, 7th, and 9th are the essential tones — the 5th is typically dropped on guitar, since it adds little harmonic information and clutters the voicing. Common in jazz and R&B as a tonic or subdominant color. Compared to EMaj7, maj9 feels more expansive and less static; the added 9th breathes air into the chord without introducing tension. Compared to E6/9, it is more harmonically active because of the 7th.
Chord diagrams
E Major 9th voicing charts — tap a sheet to open it full size to save or print.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- E Lydian (I)
- E Major (I)
- A Lydian (V)
- A♭ Natural Minor (VI)
- A♭ Phrygian (VI)
- B Major (IV)
- B Mixolydian (IV)
- B♭ Locrian (V)
- D♭ Dorian (III)
- D♭ Natural Minor (III)
- E♭ Locrian (II)
- E♭ Phrygian (II)
- F♯ Dorian (VII)
- F♯ Mixolydian (VII)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.