D add9 (Dadd9) chord on piano

Add9 chord (a major triad plus a major ninth, no seventh) on D: the notes of the Dadd9 chord are D – F♯ – A – E.

Root position: D4 – F♯4 – A4 – E5

What the Dadd9 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 Dadd9 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	D	root
3	F♯	major third (4 semitones)
5	A	perfect fifth (7 semitones)
9	E	major second (2 semitones)

Root position and inversions

An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.

Root position

D4 – F♯4 – A4 – E5

1st inversion

F♯4 – A4 – E5 – D5

2nd inversion

A4 – E5 – D5 – F♯5

3rd inversion

E5 – D5 – F♯5 – A5

Which keys is it in?

The Dadd9 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

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

Similar chords and substitutes

If Dadd9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Bm – relative minor: two shared notes, a common stand-in for the tonic
F♯m – mediant minor (iii): two shared notes
Dmaj7 – a softer, jazzier tonic colour
Dsus4 – suspended version that resolves back to this chord

Simpler versions

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

Richer versions

D9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
Dmaj9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
D11 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
D13 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Dadd9 chord?

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

How do I play the Dadd9 chord on piano?

In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.

How is the Dadd9 chord written?

The chord symbol is Dadd9, and its full name is D add9.