Piano chord
Em(add9)E minor added ninth
- E1
- G♭3
- B5
- F♯9
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play Em(add9) on piano
- Find E: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on E, 2 on G, 3 on B, 5 on F♯.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on E, 4 on G, 3 on B, 1 on F♯.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · E – G – B – F♯
1st inversion · G – B – F♯ – E
2nd inversion · B – F♯ – E – G
3rd inversion · F♯ – E – G – B
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Em(add9) inversions
Here are all 4 positions of Em(add9). The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has E at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: ERight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: GRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 2nd inversionbass: BRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: F♯Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
Em(add9) with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays E an octave lower, the right hand plays E–G–B–F♯.
Em(add9) on other instruments
About the Em(add9) chord
The 4 notes of E minor added ninth are E (1), G (♭3), B (5), F♯ (9). A minor added ninth: a minor triad plus the ninth. Wistful and modern, a common substitute for the plain minor chord.
Put your thumb on E and count up: E – G – B – F♯. The whole chord spans 14 semitones from bottom to top. That is wider than an octave, so most pianists split Em(add9): E in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of Em(add9) keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is G (G–B–F♯–E). In the 2nd inversion the bass is B (B–F♯–E–G). In the 3rd inversion the bass is F♯ (F♯–E–G–B).
Add F♯ to Em and you have Em(add9).
Questions
What notes are in the Em(add9) chord?
Em(add9) (E minor added ninth) has 4 notes: E (1), G (♭3), B (5), F♯ (9).
How many inversions does Em(add9) have?
Em(add9) can be played in 4 positions: Root position (E–G–B–F♯); 1st inversion (G–B–F♯–E); 2nd inversion (B–F♯–E–G); 3rd inversion (F♯–E–G–B).
What is the difference between Em(add9) and Em?
Add F♯ to Em and you have Em(add9).
Can I play Em(add9) with one hand?
In root position Em(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.