What notes are in the Abadd9 chord?

Abadd9 is made of Ab, C, Eb and Bb — the 1, 3, 5 and 9 degrees of an add9 chord built on Ab.

What keys use the Abadd9 chord?

Every note of Abadd9 belongs to 8 keys: Eb Major (IV), Ab Major (I), Db Major (V), C# Major (V), C Minor (VI), F Minor (III), Bb Minor (VII), A# Minor (VII). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.

How do you play Abadd9 on guitar and piano?

This page shows Abadd9 on guitar, piano, ukulele and mandolin — 6 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.

Is Abadd9 the same as G#add9?

Yes. Abadd9 and G#add9 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; Abadd9 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Chord · Ab Add 9

A♭add9 Chord

A♭add9 is Ab, C, Eb and Bb — major triad with an added 9th; pop and folk staple.

Hear it

A♭add9 on every instrument

The same 4 notes, 4 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.

What A♭add9 is made of

Ab Add 9 (Ab add 9) is built from the notes Ab, C, Eb, Bb, with the interval pattern 1, 3, 5, 9. A common add 9 chord across many styles.

Stack 1, 3, 5 and 9 on a root of A♭ and you get Ab, C, Eb and Bb. That interval recipe is what makes the chord an add9 chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why F♯add9 sounds like a transposed A♭add9.

Add 9: Major triad with an added 9th; pop and folk staple.

Spelling: the notes above are written the way a score would write them, not simplified to the nearest piano key. That is why this chord is spelled with A♭ rather than its enharmonic equivalent.

Keys that contain A♭add9

All 4 notes sit inside the scale of 8 keys. The roman numeral marks the degree the chord is rooted on.

Major keys

Minor keys

Other chords on A♭

Same root, different colour.

A♭Ab Major A♭augAb Augmented A♭sus2Ab Suspended 2nd A♭sus4Ab Suspended 4th A♭5Ab Power Chord A♭6Ab Major 6th A♭6/9Ab 6/9 A♭7Ab Dominant 7th

The same add9 shape, moved

The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.

F♯add9F# Add 9 D♭add9Db Add 9 E♭add9Eb Add 9 B♭add9Bb Add 9 Cadd9Cadd9 Dadd9Dadd9 Eadd9Eadd9 Fadd9Fadd9

Questions people ask about Abadd9

What notes are in the Abadd9 chord?: Abadd9 is made of Ab, C, Eb and Bb — the 1, 3, 5 and 9 degrees of an add9 chord built on Ab.
What keys use the Abadd9 chord?: Every note of Abadd9 belongs to 8 keys: Eb Major (IV), Ab Major (I), Db Major (V), C# Major (V), C Minor (VI), F Minor (III), Bb Minor (VII), A# Minor (VII). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.
How do you play Abadd9 on guitar and piano?: This page shows Abadd9 on guitar, piano, ukulele and mandolin — 6 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.
Is Abadd9 the same as G#add9?: Yes. Abadd9 and G#add9 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; Abadd9 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Learn the theory behind it

Why A♭add9 behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.

Chord Inversions and Slash Chords — Same Notes, Different AttitudeSuspending or adding a tone is a voicing decision, the same kind as an inversion or a slash chord.5 min read Chord Progressions ExplainedThese chords earn their keep inside a progression, leaning on the plain chord that follows.7 min read Intervals — The Only Music Theory You Actually NeedWhich degree got swapped in, and what that one interval changes.5 min read