Sixths & added
A♭ added 9th chord
A major triad with extra sparkle from the added 9th.
- Notes
- A♭CE♭B♭
- Formula
- 1359
- Built from
- root · major 3rd · perfect 5th · major 9th
How to play A♭add9
About the A♭ added 9th chord
Playing it
On guitar, the usual A♭add9 shape is xx6546 at the 4th fret. It has no open strings, so it’s a movable shape — slide it along the neck for other added 9th chords. Don’t strum the low E and A strings.
On piano, A♭add9 has three black keys (A♭, E♭ and B♭) and one white key. In root position it spans more than an octave, so many pianists play the root with the left hand and the rest with the right.
On ukulele the usual A♭add9 shape is 3343, using four fingers.
