Fadd9

Fadd9 is F, A, C and G, a add nine. The shape this page opens on is written xx32x3, lowest string first.

Also written F(add9), Fadd2 or F add nine. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 6 common shapes for Fadd9 on the guitar, and 26 derived voicings in 3 families.

In which keys. Every note of Fadd9 belongs to C major (the IV), D minor (the ♭III), F major (the I), G minor (the ♭VII), A minor (the ♭VI) and Bb major (the V).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: xx32x3, xx3065, x87585, x87088, 13-12-x-12-13-13, x-x-15-14-13-15.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. Fadd9 has x0301x, xx3213, 3332xx, xx5565, x-10-10-10-10-x, x-x-15-14-13-15, 15-15-15-14-x-x, x3526x.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. Fadd9 has 3x321x, x0x011, x3x263, x8x585, 5x556x, 8-x-7-10-8-x, x-10-x-10-10-8, 13-x-10-12-10-x.

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. Fadd9 has x0506x.

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