Gmadd9

Gmadd9 is G, Bb, D and A, a minor add nine. The shape this page opens on is written 310233, lowest string first.

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

There are 9 common shapes for Gmadd9 on the guitar, and 24 derived voicings in 3 families.

In which keys. Every note of Gmadd9 belongs to D minor (the iv), F major (the ii), G minor (the i) and Bb major (the vi).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: 310233, 355335, xx5335, xx7086, xx8785, x-10-8-7-10-x, x-10-8-x-10-10, x-13-12-12-10-x, 15-13-x-14-15-x.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. Gmadd9 has 3102xx, xx5335, 5553xx, xx7786, x-12-12-12-11-x, x1523x, 6-10-7-7-x-x, x-10-8-7-10-x.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. Gmadd9 has x1x233, 5x533x, x-10-x-7-10-6, 6x778x, 10-x-8-12-10-x, x-12-x-12-11-10, 15-x-12-14-11-x, x-13-x-14-15-15.

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. Gmadd9 has x00036, x0033x.

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