E add nine guitar chord (Eadd9)

An add9 chord adds the ninth (the second, an octave up) to a major chord, without the seventh. It enriches the sound while staying bright: popular in pop and folk.

Positions and fingerings

× muted string · o open string · numbers: fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky)

Chord notes

NoteInterval
Eroot
G♯ (G sharp)major third
Bperfect fifth
F♯ (F sharp)major ninth

Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 · E – G♯ – B – F♯

A progression with this chord

  1. Eadd9Iadd9
    241
  2. BV
    ×13
  3. 4×1342
  4. AIV
    ×123

The chord replaces the first degree of a pop progression to enrich it.

Other E chords

The same chord on other roots