E♭ add9 (E♭add9) chord on mandolin

The E♭ add9 chord (E♭add9) is an add9 chord (a major triad plus a major ninth, no seventh), made of four notes: E♭ – G – B♭ – F. The same chord with a different spelling: D♯ add9 (D♯add9).

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 3medium

Position 8medium

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What the E♭add9 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 E♭add9 chord

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

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 1, ring finger (F5)
String 2 (A): fret 1, middle finger (B♭4)
String 3 (D): fret 1, index finger (E♭4)
String 4 (G): open (G3)

Position 3

String 1 (E): fret 3, ring finger (G5)
String 2 (A): fret 6, little finger (E♭5)
String 3 (D): fret 3, middle finger (F4)
String 4 (G): fret 3, index finger (B♭3)

Position 8, barre at fret 8

String 1 (E): fret 11, little finger (E♭6)
String 2 (A): fret 8, index finger (F5)
String 3 (D): fret 8, index finger (B♭4)
String 4 (G): open (G3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 8; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The E♭add9 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

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

Similar chords and substitutes

If E♭add9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Cm – relative minor: two shared notes, a common stand-in for the tonic
Gm – mediant minor (iii): two shared notes
E♭maj7 – a softer, jazzier tonic colour
E♭sus4 – suspended version that resolves back to this chord

Simpler versions

E♭ – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
E♭sus2 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

E♭9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
E♭maj9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
E♭11 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
E♭13 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E♭add9 chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play E♭add9 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 3 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 E♭add9 shapes?

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

How is the E♭add9 chord written?

The chord symbol is E♭add9 (also written Ebadd9), and its full name is E♭ add9.