Gadd9 Chord

How to play G add9 on guitar — a major chord with extra shimmer; very common in worship and pop.

23
Notes
G – B – D – A
Frets (low → high)
3 0 0 0 0 3
Difficulty
Easy
Shape
Movable shape at fret 3

How to play Gadd9, step by step

  1. 1Put your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string (6th).
  2. 2Put your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the high E string (1st).
  3. 3Let the A, D, G and B strings ring open.
  4. 4Strum 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.

What makes a added ninth chord

A major chord with extra shimmer; very common in worship and pop.

NoteIntervalSemitones above G
Groot0
Bmajor 3rd4
D5th7
A9th2

Other G 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 Gadd9 you are a fret-slide away from all of these.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Gadd9 chord?
Gadd9 is made of G, B, D, A — the root, major 3rd, 5th, 9th of G.
Is Gadd9 hard to play?
No — Gadd9 sits at 3 0 0 0 0 3 and is rated easy, so it is comfortable for most beginners.

Got a chart full of chords like Gadd9?

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.