F♯ add9 (F♯add9) chord on mandolin

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

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Basic shapemedium

Position 1medium

Position 6medium

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What the F♯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 F♯add9 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

String 1 (E): fret 4, little finger (G♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, ring finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 4, middle finger (F♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 3, index finger (A♯3)

Position 1

String 1 (E): fret 2, ring finger (F♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 1, middle finger (A♯4)
String 3 (D): fret 4, little finger (F♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 1, index finger (G♯3)

Position 6

String 1 (E): fret 6, ring finger (A♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 9, little finger (F♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 6, middle finger (G♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, index finger (C♯4)

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 F♯add9 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)
G♯ minor: VIIadd9
D♯ minor: IIIadd9

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

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

Simpler versions

F♯ – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
F♯sus2 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

F♯9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
F♯maj9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
F♯11 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
F♯13 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the F♯add9 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 F♯add9 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. 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 F♯add9 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 F♯add9 chord written?

The chord symbol is F♯add9 (also written F#add9), and its full name is F♯ add9.