Piano chord
Bm(add9)B minor added ninth
- B1
- D♭3
- F♯5
- C♯9
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play Bm(add9) on piano
- Find B: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on B, 2 on D, 3 on F♯, 5 on C♯.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on B, 4 on D, 3 on F♯, 1 on C♯.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · B – D – F♯ – C♯
1st inversion · D – F♯ – C♯ – B
2nd inversion · F♯ – C♯ – B – D
3rd inversion · C♯ – B – D – F♯
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Bm(add9) inversions
Here are all 4 positions of Bm(add9). The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has B at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: BRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: DRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 2nd inversionbass: F♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: C♯Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
Bm(add9) with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays B an octave lower, the right hand plays B–D–F♯–C♯.
Bm(add9) on other instruments
About the Bm(add9) chord
The 4 notes of B minor added ninth are B (1), D (♭3), F♯ (5), C♯ (9). A minor added ninth: a minor triad plus the ninth. Wistful and modern, a common substitute for the plain minor chord.
The keys are B – D – F♯ – C♯, counted up from B; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 14 semitones. Few hands reach that far, so share Bm(add9) between both hands, with B in the left.
In the inversions of Bm(add9) the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is D (D–F♯–C♯–B). In the 2nd inversion the bass is F♯ (F♯–C♯–B–D). In the 3rd inversion the bass is C♯ (C♯–B–D–F♯).
Add C♯ to Bm and you have Bm(add9).
Questions
What notes are in the Bm(add9) chord?
Bm(add9) (B minor added ninth) has 4 notes: B (1), D (♭3), F♯ (5), C♯ (9).
How many inversions does Bm(add9) have?
Bm(add9) can be played in 4 positions: Root position (B–D–F♯–C♯); 1st inversion (D–F♯–C♯–B); 2nd inversion (F♯–C♯–B–D); 3rd inversion (C♯–B–D–F♯).
What is the difference between Bm(add9) and Bm?
Add C♯ to Bm and you have Bm(add9).
Can I play Bm(add9) with one hand?
In root position Bm(add9) spans 14 semitones, more than an octave. Play the root with the left hand and the upper notes with the right, or leave out the fifth.