Abadd9

Abadd9 is Ab, C, Eb and Bb, a add nine. The shape this page opens on is written 43x344, lowest string first.

Also written Ab(add9), Abadd2 or Ab add nine. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 4 common shapes for Abadd9 on the guitar, and 21 derived voicings in 2 families.

In which keys. Every note of Abadd9 belongs to C minor (the ♭VI), C# major (the V), Eb major (the IV), F minor (the ♭III), Ab major (the I) and Bb minor (the ♭VII).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: 43x344, xx65x6, x-11-10-8-11-8, x-11-10-x-11-11.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. Abadd9 has x1111x, xx6546, 6665xx, xx8898, x-13-13-13-13-x, 4313xx, xx1314, x3634x.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. Abadd9 has 4x131x, x3x344, 6x654x, x6x596, x-11-x-8-11-8, 8x889x, 11-x-10-13-11-x, x-13-x-13-13-11.

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.