Piano chord
Eadd9E added ninth
- E1
- G♯3
- B5
- F♯9
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play Eadd9 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.
Eadd9 inversions
Eadd9 can be played in 4 positions. In root position E is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: ERight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: G♯Right 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
Eadd9 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays E an octave lower, the right hand plays E–G♯–B–F♯.
Eadd9 on other instruments
About the Eadd9 chord
E added ninth has 4 notes: E (1), G♯ (3), B (5), F♯ (9). An added ninth: a major triad plus the ninth, without a seventh. It adds sparkle to a plain major chord and works anywhere the triad does.
On the keyboard, start from E and add the other notes above it: E – G♯ – B – F♯. From the lowest to the highest key that is 14 semitones. It is too wide for one hand: play E with the left hand and the rest with the right.
Each inversion of Eadd9 puts a different note in the bass. 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).
Eadd9 is E with one note added: F♯.
Questions
What notes are in the Eadd9 chord?
Eadd9 (E added ninth) has 4 notes: E (1), G♯ (3), B (5), F♯ (9).
How many inversions does Eadd9 have?
Eadd9 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 Eadd9 and E?
Eadd9 is E with one note added: F♯.
Can I play Eadd9 with one hand?
In root position Eadd9 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.