D major ninth (Dmaj9) chord on guitar

Major ninth chord (a major seventh chord plus a major ninth) on D: the notes of the Dmaj9 chord are D – F♯ – A – C♯ – E.

Dots show:

Easy versioneasy

Position 2medium

Position 4medium

E shape, fret 10hard

Position 11medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

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What the Dmaj9 chord sounds like

A major ninth is a major seventh chord with an added ninth: spacious, floating and very jazzy as a tonic.

Notes of the Dmaj9 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	D	root
3	F♯	major third (4 semitones)
5	A	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
7	C♯	major seventh (11 semitones)
9	E	major second (2 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Easy version

String 1 (e): open (E4)
String 2 (B): fret 7, middle finger (F♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 6, index finger (C♯4)
String 4 (D): open (D3)
String 5 (A): not played
String 6 (E): not played

Position 2, barre at fret 2

String 1 (e): open (E4)
String 2 (B): fret 2, index finger (C♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 2, index finger (A3)
String 4 (D): fret 4, ring finger (F♯3)
String 5 (A): fret 5, little finger (D3)
String 6 (E): not played

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 2; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 4

String 1 (e): fret 5, ring finger (A4)
String 2 (B): fret 5, ring finger (E4)
String 3 (G): fret 6, little finger (C♯4)
String 4 (D): fret 4, index finger (F♯3)
String 5 (A): fret 5, middle finger (D3)
String 6 (E): not played

The “C, A, G, E and D shapes” are the CAGED system: you slide the shape of the open C, A, G, E or D chord up the neck and your index finger (a barre) takes over the job of the nut. That way the same chord can be played in five places, anywhere on the fretboard.

Tuning: E A D G B E (low to high). String 6 is the thickest, the low E. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The Dmaj9 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

D major: Imaj9 (tonic)
A major: IVmaj9 (subdominant)
B minor: IIImaj9
F♯ minor: VImaj9

Similar chords and substitutes

If Dmaj9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Bm7 – relative minor seventh: three shared notes
F♯m7 – mediant minor seventh: three shared notes
D6 – another tonic colour, more vintage and swingy

Simpler versions

Dmaj7 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
Dadd9 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
D – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
Dsus2 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Dmaj9 chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play Dmaj9 on guitar?

The easiest shape above is “Easy version”, rated easy. We show 5 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 Dmaj9 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 5-note chord. The fifth (A) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the Dmaj9 chord written?

The chord symbol is Dmaj9, and its full name is D major ninth.