F add9 (Fadd9) chord on banjo

Add9 chord (a major triad plus a major ninth, no seventh) on F: the notes of the Fadd9 chord are F – A – C – G.

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 7medium

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What the Fadd9 chord sounds like

An add9 chord is a major triad with an added ninth and no seventh. It sounds bright and shimmering – a favourite colour in acoustic pop.

Notes of the Fadd9 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	F	root
3	A	major third (4 semitones)
5	C	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
9	G	major second (2 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape, barre at fret 5

String 1 (D): fret 7, ring finger (A4)
String 2 (B): fret 6, middle finger (F4)
String 3 (G): fret 5, index finger (C4)
String 4 (D): fret 5, index finger (G3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 5; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 7

String 1 (D): fret 7, index finger (A4)
String 2 (B): fret 8, middle finger (G4)
String 3 (G): fret 10, little finger (F4)
String 4 (D): fret 10, little finger (C4)

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The Fadd9 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

F major: Iadd9 (tonic)
B♭ major: Vadd9 (dominant)
C major: IVadd9 (subdominant)
G minor: VIIadd9
D minor: IIIadd9
A minor: VIadd9

Similar chords and substitutes

If Fadd9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Dm – relative minor: two shared notes, a common stand-in for the tonic
Am – mediant minor (iii): two shared notes
Fmaj7 – a softer, jazzier tonic colour
Fsus4 – suspended version that resolves back to this chord

Simpler versions

F – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
Fsus2 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

F9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
Fmaj9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
F11 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
F13 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Fadd9 chord?

F, A, C, G. The root is F; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth, major second.

What is the easiest way to play Fadd9 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 2 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some Fadd9 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 4-note chord. The fifth (C) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the Fadd9 chord written?

The chord symbol is Fadd9, and its full name is F add9.