Abmadd9

Abmadd9 is Ab, Cb, Eb and Bb, a minor add nine. The shape this page opens on is written 42x34x, lowest string first.

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

There are 7 common shapes for Abmadd9 on the guitar, and 21 derived voicings in 2 families.

In which keys. Every note of Abmadd9 belongs to Eb minor (the iv), F# major (the ii), Ab minor (the i) and B major (the vi).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: 42x34x, 466446, xx6446, xx9896, x-11-9-8-11-x, x-11-9-x-11-11, x-14-13-13-11-x.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. Abmadd9 has x1110x, xx6446, 6664xx, xx8897, x-13-13-13-12-x, 4213xx, xx1304, x2634x.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. Abmadd9 has 4x130x, x2x344, 6x644x, x-11-x-8-11-7, 7x889x, 11-x-9-13-11-x, x-13-x-13-12-11, x6x496.

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