Abadd9 Guitar Chord

Abadd9 is the A flat added ninth chord. It has four notes: A♭, C, E♭ and B♭. The standard shape is a four string grip with the root on the D string at the 6th fret and no barre; slide the same fingers along the neck and the shape becomes any other add9.

Four fingers on the top four strings between the 4th and 6th frets, root on the D string. Slide the whole grip and it becomes whatever add9 the D string is naming.

How to play Abadd9, step by step

Index finger: 4th fret, B string
Middle finger: 5th fret, G string
Ring finger: 6th fret, D string
Pinky finger: 6th fret, high E string
Strum from the D string down, skipping the two lowest strings.

Nothing here depends on the root being A flat. Two frets down the identical grip plays F#add9, two frets up it plays Bbadd9.

More ways to play Abadd9

There are 2 common Abadd9 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Abadd9 guitar chord diagram, compact, frets 8 to 11, played x 11 10 8 11 x — Compact, frets 8 to 11

If it buzzes or sounds wrong

The low strings rumble into the chord: The low E and A strings are not part of the shape. Start the strum at the D string, and let the ring finger's tip lean back to keep the A string quiet.
The B flat on top does not ring: The pinky shares the 6th fret with the ring finger and tends to land flat. Come down on its very tip, right behind the fret.
The index note gets buried: The index holds the 4th fret of the B string underneath the arch of the other fingers. Keep it curled and pressing straight down or the fifth of the chord goes missing.

What makes it an Abadd9

A♭ · C · E♭ · B♭ 1 3 5 9

Abadd9 is an A flat major triad (A♭, C, E♭) with a B flat added, the ninth. The ninth is the second note of the A flat scale an octave up, and because the third (C) stays put, the chord keeps its major sound and gains air.

It does the jobs plain A flat does: the I chord in A flat, the IV chord in E flat, the V chord in D flat. Those are piano, horn and gospel keys, which is where this chord spends most of its life.

Abadd9 vs Absus2

Both chords add a B flat to A flat, but Absus2 removes the third (C) to make room for it, while Abadd9 keeps the third and stacks the B flat on top. Abadd9 still sounds like A flat major, only brighter; Absus2 floats, neither major nor minor.

The grips differ too: Absus2 is a barre shape, while the standard Abadd9 here is four separate fingers on four strings.

Abadd9 chord questions

Is Abadd9 the same as G#add9?

Yes, one chord with two names. A flat suits the flat keys this chord appears in, so it is the spelling used here.

What is the difference between Abadd9 and Ab9?

Ab9 also contains a G flat, the flat seventh, which makes it a dominant chord. Abadd9 adds only the B flat and stays a bright major chord.

What is the difference between Abadd9 and Absus2?

Both contain a B flat, but Absus2 removes the third (C) and floats, while Abadd9 keeps the third and still sounds fully major.

Is there an open Abadd9?

No. A flat offers no open strings for this chord, so both voicings here are movable grips. The standard one sits between the 4th and 6th frets.

Where is Abadd9 used?

As a brighter A flat in the keys of A flat, E flat and D flat. Gospel, soul and worship arrangements in flat keys are its natural home.