Bbadd9 Ukulele Chord

Bbadd9 is the B flat added ninth chord. It has four notes: B flat, D, F and C. The standard shape is the familiar B flat grip with the top note moved up two frets: four fingers between the 1st and 3rd frets, one string each.

Four fingers between the 1st and 3rd frets, one string each. It is the plain B flat grip with the top note raised two frets to reach the C, the added ninth.

How to play Bbadd9 on ukulele, step by step

Index finger: 1st fret, E string
Middle finger: 2nd fret, C string
Ring finger: 3rd fret, G string
Pinky finger: 3rd fret, A string
Strum all four strings.

The shape has no open strings, so it moves: slide everything up two frets and the same fingers play Cadd9, up four and it is Dadd9.

More ways to play Bbadd9

There are 3 common Bbadd9 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.

Bbadd9 ukulele chord diagram, barre at fret 5, played 5565 — Barre at fret 5

Bbadd9 ukulele chord diagram, frets 7 to 10, played 7 10 8 8 — Frets 7 to 10

If it buzzes or feels cramped

Fingers pile up at the 3rd fret: The ring finger and pinky sit side by side at the 3rd fret. Stagger them, ring back in the fret space and pinky tight to the fret wire, so both notes speak.
The E string dies: The index at the 1st fret sits under the arch of the other fingers. Keep it curled on its very tip so it presses the string instead of glancing it.
It sounds like plain B flat: If the pinky drifts back to the 1st fret you are playing plain Bb. The 3rd fret of the A string, C, is the added ninth; make sure it is really there.

What makes it a Bbadd9

B♭ · D · F · C 1 3 5 9

Bbadd9 is a B flat major triad (B flat, D, F) with a ninth added: C. The ninth is the second note of the B flat scale moved up an octave, and because the third (D) stays in the chord, Bbadd9 keeps its major character and gains air.

It is the I chord of B flat, the IV of F and the V of E flat, and the added C belongs to all three keys. B flat leans toward horn and piano material, so on a ukulele this chord appears most in soul, jazz and older pop.

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 alongside. Bbadd9 stays clearly major with extra shimmer; Bbsus2 is hollow and undecided.

From this page's standard shape the difference is one note at the top of the grid: the added ninth rings from the A string while the third holds firm on the C string below it.

Bbadd9 chord questions

Is Bbadd9 the same as A#add9?

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

What is the difference between Bbadd9 and Bb9?

Bb9 also contains a flat seventh, A flat, 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.

How is this different from the plain Bb shape?

Plain Bb barres the top two strings at the 1st fret. Bbadd9 moves the A string note up to the 3rd fret, so the barre becomes four separate fingers and the top note becomes the ninth.

Is there an easier Bbadd9?

The barre version at the 5th fret trades the four finger cluster for a barre plus one finger. Higher on the neck, but a calmer grip for barre-friendly hands.