Abadd9 Guitar Chord Chart | Ab Major Ninth Added
Abadd9 stands for the Ab add nine chord, built from Ab, C, Eb and Bb. It is a major triad with a ninth above it and no seventh.
For a simpler, more open sound, the Ab major pentatonic scale holds every chord tone and skips the fourth and seventh of the major scale. The ninth (Bb) is the same pitch as the second, one octave higher, and unlike a sus2 chord the add9 keeps the major third. Its extended cousins are covered in ninth chords.
In the name, the word add tells you the ninth comes without a seventh underneath it. Written with sharps, the same chord is G#add9.
Ab added 9th guitar chord is also written as Abadd9, Ab(add9), Abadd2 or Abmaj(add9).
Abadd9 Chord Notes and Formula
Notes that compose the Ab add9 chord:
Tones of the Major Ninth Added chord:
Formula: 1 3 5 9
Same chord, different name: Abadd9 is also written as G#add9 (G# add nine).
Ab Add9 Chord Interactive Fretboard
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Chords That Go With Abadd9
One key where Abadd9 fits is Ab major, where it works as the I chord. These are the main chords of that key, the ones you will often hear around it:
See every key in the guitar keys chart, or build a progression with these chords in the chord progression generator.
More Ab Chords
Want to know how this chord is built? Read ninth and add9 chords explained, or browse all Ab guitar chords.
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What notes make up Ab add nine?
Ab add nine contains Ab, C, Eb and Bb: root, major third, perfect fifth and ninth. Bb is a whole step up from the root, one octave higher.
Is Abadd9 the same as G#add9?
Yes. Abadd9 is spelled Ab, C, Eb, Bb, and G#add9 is spelled G#, B#, D#, A#. The sound is identical, and the flat spelling is free of sharps.
Which scale goes with Ab add nine?
The Ab major scale: Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G. It contains all four notes of the chord.
Why is Abadd9 not a seventh chord?
It has no seventh: its notes are only Ab, C, Eb and Bb. The Bb is a ninth, an octave and a whole step up from the root.
