Bbadd9 Guitar Chord

Bbadd9 is the B flat added ninth chord. It has four notes: B♭, D, F and C. The standard shape is a four string grip with the root on the D string at the 8th fret, no barre: the same movable form charts print for Fadd9, slid up five frets.

Four fingers on the top four strings between the 6th and 8th frets, root on the D string. It is the Fadd9 chart shape moved up five frets.

How to play Bbadd9, step by step

Index finger: 6th fret, B string
Middle finger: 7th fret, G string
Ring finger: 8th fret, D string
Pinky finger: 8th fret, high E string
Strum from the D string down, skipping the two lowest strings.

The grip has no open strings, so it moves as one piece: one fret up it is Badd9, two frets down it is Abadd9.

More ways to play Bbadd9

There are 2 common Bbadd9 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.

Bbadd9 guitar chord diagram, compact, frets 10 to 13, played x 13 12 10 13 x — Compact, frets 10 to 13

If it buzzes or sounds wrong

The bottom two strings ring: They are not part of the shape. Start the strum at the D string and let the ring finger lean back enough to keep the A string quiet.
The C on top is weak: The pinky shares the 8th fret with the ring finger and tends to land flat. Press with its tip, right behind the fret, so the ninth on top speaks clearly.
Fingers crowd each other at the 7th fret: The frets are narrower up here than at the nut. Keep the thumb behind the neck and let the fingers arrive from above so each string gets its own space.

What makes it a Bbadd9

B♭ · D · F · C 1 3 5 9

Bbadd9 is a B flat major triad (B♭, D, F) with a C added, the ninth. The ninth is the second note of the B flat scale moved up an octave, and since the third (D) is still there, the chord stays fully major and simply gains air.

It does the same jobs plain B flat does: the I chord in the key of B flat, the IV chord in F, the V chord in E flat. Those are horn and piano keys, so this chord turns up in soul, gospel and worship sets more often than in open position guitar songs.

Bbadd9 vs Bbsus2

Both chords add a C to B flat, but Bbsus2 removes the third (D) to make room for it, while Bbadd9 keeps the third and stacks the C on top. That one note is the difference between a chord that still sounds like B flat and one that floats, undecided.

Bbsus2 is a barre shape on this site; the standard Bbadd9 here is four separate fingers with no barre, so the add9 is often the easier of the two grips.

Bbadd9 chord questions

Is Bbadd9 the same as A#add9?

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

What is the difference between Bbadd9 and Bb9?

Bb9 also contains an A flat, the flat seventh, which makes it a dominant chord with a blues flavour. Bbadd9 adds only the C and stays a bright major chord.

What is the difference between Bbadd9 and Bbsus2?

Both contain a C, but Bbsus2 removes the third (D) and floats, while Bbadd9 keeps the third and still sounds fully major.

Is there an open Bbadd9?

No. B flat has no open strings to lean on, so both voicings here are movable four string grips. The standard one at the 6th to 8th frets is the lower and easier of the two.

Where is Bbadd9 used?

As a brighter B flat in the keys of B flat, F and E flat. Worship and pop arrangements in flat keys reach for it constantly.