Emaj9 Piano Chord

Emaj9 is the E major ninth chord. It has five notes: E, G sharp, B, D sharp and F sharp. It spans a ninth, so most players put E in the left hand and the other four notes in the right.

E at the bottom, then G sharp, B, D sharp and F sharp. If the span is too wide, the left hand takes E and the right hand plays the top four notes.

How to play Emaj9 on piano, step by step

Start on the E above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
Thumb (1): E
Index finger (2): G♯
Middle finger (3): B
Ring finger (4): D♯
Little finger (5): F♯
That reach is wider than an octave, so most players split it: play E with the left hand and the other notes with the right. If you keep it in one hand, leave out the fifth (B), the note the chord misses least.

The white keys, E and B, sit under the thumb and middle finger and anchor the shape. The three sharps fall to the index, ring and little fingers between and above them.

If it sounds wrong

The stretch is too wide: Play E with the left hand and G sharp, B, D sharp and F sharp with the right. That four note shape sits comfortably under one hand.
It pushes when it should rest: That is D natural instead of D sharp. The flat seventh turns it into E9, the restless chord; the major ninth needs the black key a half step under the octave.
The top note is weak: The F sharp on the little finger is the ninth, the note that names the sound. Let the hand lean a little outward so its weight reaches that finger.

What makes it an Emaj9

E · G♯ · B · D♯ · F♯ 1 3 5 7 9

Emaj9 is Emaj7 with a ninth added: E, G sharp, B and D sharp make the major seventh chord, and the F sharp on top makes it a ninth. The D sharp under the octave and the F sharp above it are what give the chord its glow.

It is the I chord of E major at its softest. E major is home ground for a lot of soul and gospel, and this is the version of the home chord those players actually reach for.

Emaj9 vs Emaj7

Emaj9 is Emaj7 with an F sharp on top. The seventh chord is quiet; the ninth makes it wider and a touch more modern.

In the hand the seventh chord fits easily and the ninth chord does not, so Emaj9 is normally split between hands, or played without the B, the note it misses least.

Questions about Emaj9

Which notes are in an Emaj9 chord on piano?

E, G sharp, B, D sharp and F sharp. G sharp, D sharp and F sharp are black keys; E and B are white.

What is the difference between Emaj9 and E9?

The seventh. E9 has D natural and pushes toward A; Emaj9 has D sharp and stays put.

Why are there no inversions on this page?

The chord spans more than an octave, so an inversion does not stack the moved note on top; it lands in the middle. Pianists handle ninths with rootless voicings instead, which is an advanced subject of its own.

Do I have to play all five notes?

No. Leave out the B, the fifth. E in the left hand with G sharp, D sharp and F sharp in the right says everything the chord has to say.

Where is Emaj9 used?

As the I chord of E major in soul, gospel and ballads, and anywhere Emaj7 is written and a softer, wider sound fits.