add nine chord
B♭, D, F and C
- Root
- B♭
- Major third
- D
- Perfect fifth
- F
- Major ninth
- C
Formula
1 3 5 9 (4, 7, 14 half steps above B♭)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | B♭ | D | F | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
B♭add9 inversions
B♭add9 has 3 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
B♭add9
Root position
| Notes | B♭ | D | F | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
B♭add9/D
First inversion
| Notes | D | F | B♭ | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
B♭add9/F
Second inversion
| Notes | F | B♭ | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
B♭add9/C
Third inversion
| Notes | C | D | F | B♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Where B♭add9 fits
All of its notes are in B♭ major, F major and E♭ major, so it fits naturally in those keys.
How B♭add9 is built
B♭ is the root, D the major third, F the perfect fifth and C the major ninth.
An add9 chord is a major chord plus the ninth, the second note of the scale an octave higher, with no seventh. It is usually played with the ninth on top: B♭, D, F and C.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of B♭add9 are B, D, F, C. That is why it is spelled B♭, D, F and C.
Find B♭add9 yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 4
Tap the notes of B♭add9, in any octave and any order.
Practice B♭add9 in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the B♭add9 chord?
B♭add9 has four notes: B♭, D, F and C. B♭ is the root, D the major third, F the perfect fifth and C the major ninth.
What fingers do you use for B♭add9 on piano?
In root position, play B♭, D, F and C with right hand fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb, index finger, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3, 2 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of B♭add9?
B♭add9 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (B♭add9/D): D, F, B♭ and C. Second inversion (B♭add9/F): F, B♭, C and D. Third inversion (B♭add9/C): C, D, F and B♭.
What is an add nine chord?
An add9 chord is a major chord plus the ninth, the second note of the scale an octave higher, with no seventh. It is usually played with the ninth on top: B♭, D, F and C. All the notes of B♭add9 are in B♭ major, F major and E♭ major.