Abadd9 Ukulele Chord

Abadd9 is the A flat added ninth chord. It has four notes: A flat, C, E flat and B flat. The standard shape is a small barre at the 3rd fret with the middle finger on the 4th fret of the E string, the same movable grip that plays Gadd9 one fret lower.

12B♭E♭A♭C

A small barre at the 3rd fret with the middle finger one fret higher on the E string. The same movable grip plays every add9 root; here it sits at A flat.

How to play Abadd9 on ukulele, step by step

  1. Index finger: press flat across the G to A strings at fret 3
  2. Middle finger: 4th fret, E string
  3. Strum all four strings.

Nothing in this shape is specific to A flat. Slide it down one fret for Gadd9 or up one for Aadd9 and the fingers stay exactly where they are.

More ways to play Abadd9

There are 3 common Abadd9 shapes: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these further up the neck. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Frets 3 to 6
Abadd9 ukulele chord diagram, frets 3 to 6, played 3046

More open than the barre shape: the one ringing open string softens an otherwise dark key.

Frets 5 to 8
Abadd9 ukulele chord diagram, frets 5 to 8, played 5866

Round and mid-heavy, with the third at the bottom. A good voicing when the song sits higher on the neck.

If it buzzes or sounds wrong

The E string thuds under the barre
The middle finger has to arch over the barre to reach the 4th fret. Come down on its very tip so the string is not caught by both fingers at once.
The barre sounds patchy
Three strings sound from the index alone at the 3rd fret. Roll the finger slightly onto its edge and pull the elbow in so the pressure spreads evenly.
The chord sounds sour
One string has probably slipped a fret. Check the E string is at the 4th fret, one higher than the barre, and everything else sits exactly on the 3rd.

What makes it an Abadd9

A♭ · C · E♭ · B♭ 1 3 5 9

Abadd9 is an A flat major triad (A flat, C, E flat) with a ninth added: B flat. The ninth is the second note of the A flat scale moved up an octave, and because the third (C) stays in the chord, it keeps its major character and simply gains air.

A flat is a piano and horn key, so a ukulele player usually meets this chord in soul and gospel material rather than in campfire songbooks. It is the I of A flat, the IV of E flat and the V of D flat, and the added B flat belongs to all three keys.

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 alongside. One is clearly major with shimmer, the other floats without committing.

In a progression, Abadd9 can sit anywhere plain A flat sits. Absus2 changes the harmony enough that it usually wants to resolve back to the plain chord a moment later.

Abadd9 chord questions

Is Abadd9 the same as G#add9?

Yes, one chord with two names. A flat is how the flat keys this chord lives in spell it, so it is the name used here.

What is the difference between Abadd9 and Ab9?

Ab9 also contains a flat seventh, G flat, which makes it a dominant chord with a blues and soul flavour. 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 Abadd9 without the barre?

Yes: the second shape on this page frets three strings around the open C string, no barre needed. The open string carries the third of the chord.

Where is Abadd9 used?

Wherever plain A flat wants extra colour: soul, gospel and jazz-leaning pop in the keys of A flat, E flat and D flat.

Chords to learn next

Other Ab chords