Eadd9 Chord
How to play E add9 on guitar — a major chord with extra shimmer; very common in worship and pop.
- Notes
- E – G♯ – B – F♯
- Frets (low → high)
- 12 14 14 13 12 12
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Shape
- Barre at fret 12
How to play Eadd9, step by step
- 1Lay your index finger flat across all six strings at the 12th fret — this is the barre, and it works like a movable nut.
- 2Put your ring finger on the 14th fret of the A string (5th).
- 3Put your little finger on the 14th fret of the D string (4th).
- 4Put your middle finger on the 13th fret of the G string (3rd).
- 5Strum slowly and check every string sounds cleanly; if one buzzes, press closer to the fret wire and arch your fingers so they clear the neighbouring strings.
An easier way to play Eadd9
Eadd9 normally needs a barre, which is the single most common place beginners stall. A capo removes it entirely.
Put a capo on fret 4 and play an open Cadd9 shape. The capo raises every string by 4 semitones, so what your hand fingers as Cadd9 comes out of the guitar as Eadd9 — the same chord, none of the strain.
What makes a added ninth chord
A major chord with extra shimmer; very common in worship and pop.
| Note | Interval | Semitones above E |
|---|---|---|
| E | root | 0 |
| G♯ | major 3rd | 4 |
| B | 5th | 7 |
| F♯ | 9th | 2 |
Other E chords
Same root, different colour. Swapping one of these into a progression is the quickest way to change its mood without changing the key.
Every add9 chord
The same shape moved around the neck. If you can play Eadd9 you are a fret-slide away from all of these.
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the Eadd9 chord?
- Eadd9 is made of E, G♯, B, F♯ — the root, major 3rd, 5th, 9th of E.
- Is Eadd9 hard to play?
- Eadd9 is usually played as a barre chord at the 12th fret, which takes some hand strength. An easier route is a capo on fret 4 and the open Cadd9 shape — it sounds identical.
- How do I play Eadd9 without a barre?
- Put a capo on fret 4 and play the open Cadd9 shape. The capo raises every string by 4 semitones, so the shape sounds as Eadd9 while your hand does far less work.
Got a chart full of chords like Eadd9?
Upload a chord sheet and move every chord into a key that fits your hands and your voice — the layout stays exactly as printed. Or let the capo calculator pick the position that turns the barre chords into open ones.