add nine chord
E♭, G, B♭ and F
- Root
- E♭
- Major third
- G
- Perfect fifth
- B♭
- Major ninth
- F
Formula
1 3 5 9 (4, 7, 14 half steps above E♭)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | E♭ | G | B♭ | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
E♭add9 inversions
E♭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.
E♭add9
Root position
| Notes | E♭ | G | B♭ | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
E♭add9/G
First inversion
| Notes | G | B♭ | E♭ | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
E♭add9/B♭
Second inversion
| Notes | B♭ | E♭ | F | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
E♭add9/F
Third inversion
| Notes | F | G | B♭ | E♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Where E♭add9 fits
All of its notes are in E♭ major, B♭ major and A♭ major, so it fits naturally in those keys.
How E♭add9 is built
E♭ is the root, G the major third, B♭ the perfect fifth and F 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: E♭, G, B♭ and F.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of E♭add9 are E, G, B, F. That is why it is spelled E♭, G, B♭ and F.
Find E♭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 E♭add9, in any octave and any order.
Practice E♭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 E♭add9 chord?
E♭add9 has four notes: E♭, G, B♭ and F. E♭ is the root, G the major third, B♭ the perfect fifth and F the major ninth.
What fingers do you use for E♭add9 on piano?
In root position, play E♭, G, B♭ and F 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 E♭add9?
E♭add9 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (E♭add9/G): G, B♭, E♭ and F. Second inversion (E♭add9/B♭): B♭, E♭, F and G. Third inversion (E♭add9/F): F, G, B♭ and E♭.
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: E♭, G, B♭ and F. All the notes of E♭add9 are in E♭ major, B♭ major and A♭ major.