Fadd9
Fadd9
Notes
F · A · C · G
Intervals
- RootF (1P)
- Major 3rdA (3M)
- Perfect 5thC (5P)
- Major 9thG (9M)
Fretboard
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About
The Fadd9 (F–A–C–G) 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 G adds brightness and shimmer; the A 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 FMaj9, add9 is simpler and more grounded — a major triad with a single added color. Compared to plain F, 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
- F Lydian (I)
- F Major (I)
- F Major Pentatonic (deg 1)
- F Mixolydian (I)
- A Locrian (VI)
- A Natural Minor (VI)
- A Phrygian (VI)
- B Locrian (V)
- B♭ Lydian (V)
- B♭ Major (V)
- B♭ Melodic Minor (V)
- C Dorian (IV)
- C Major (IV)
- C Melodic Minor (IV)
- C Mixolydian (IV)
- 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)
- E♭ Lydian (II)
- G Dorian (VII)
- G Mixolydian (VII)
- G 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.