A♭add9 guitar chord
How to play A♭add9 on guitar — the notes A♭, C, E♭, B♭, a shape you can tap to hear, the keys it lives in, and a progression to hear it in context. Free.
The shape
Tap the diagram to hear A♭add9 strummed. A♭add9 is played as a barre chord around fret 11: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
The notes in A♭add9
A added ninth chord is spelled from its root up: A♭ (R), C (3), E♭ (5), B♭ (9). Those are the only notes in A♭add9 — play them in any order, in any octave, and it's still A♭add9.
What a added ninth chord is
In plain terms, an add9 keeps a full major chord and adds the ninth on top (root, 3rd, 5th, 9th) — colour without changing the chord's job.
How it's used: A major chord with sparkle: it stays a I or IV but shimmers. Unlike a sus, it keeps its third, so its major/minor identity is intact.
The sound: Bright, sparkling, modern — a major chord with extra light. Where you'll hear it: Modern pop, worship, acoustic singer-songwriter, ambient rock.
Hear A♭add9 in a progression
An add9 keeps its major job but sparkles — here in a I–V move. Press play, and drag the Key control to move it anywhere.
Other A♭ chords
added ninth chords on other roots
Chords and their spellings are shared facts of music theory. Every diagram and sound here is generated by ThunderFret's own engine — no tabs, lyrics or recordings are reproduced.
Open A♭add9 in the interactive tool to see every place it sits on the neck, hear it, and find the shape that fits your hand — free.
See A♭add9 on the fretboardFrequently asked
What notes are in A♭add9?
A♭add9 is made of 4 notes: A♭ (the R), C (the 3), E♭ (the 5), B♭ (the 9).
How do you play A♭add9 on guitar?
A♭add9 is played as a barre chord around fret 11: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
When would I use A♭add9?
Modern pop, worship, acoustic singer-songwriter, ambient rock.