Bmadd9

Bmadd9 is B, D, F# and C#, a minor add nine. The shape this page opens on is written x5442x, lowest string first.

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

There are 7 common shapes for Bmadd9 on the guitar, and 22 derived voicings in 3 families.

In which keys. Every note of Bmadd9 belongs to D major (the vi), F# minor (the iv), A major (the ii) and B minor (the i).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: x5442x, 75067x, 799779, xx9779, x-x-12-11-12-9, x-14-12-11-14-x, x-14-12-x-14-14.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. Bmadd9 has xx0422, 2404xx, x4443x, xx9779, 9997xx, x-x-11-11-12-10, xx4637, 7546xx.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. Bmadd9 has x4x432, 2x042x, 7x463x, x5x677, 9x977x, x-14-x-11-14-10, 10-x-11-11-12-x, x-9-x-7-12-9.

Open string. An open string left ringing against a fretted grip. Because it costs no finger, it sounds a note the closed shape has none left for -- a tension on top, or a pedal root underneath. Either a familiar grip with open strings added, or a shape so sparse the open strings carry the chord. These belong to their key rather than to a shape, so D, A, G and E have many and Eb a handful. Bmadd9 has 7x060x, xx0607.

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