Eadd9 chord
Eadd9 is E, G♯, B and F♯: 1–3–5–9 built on E. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
0-2-4-1-0-0 · open · medium
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · F♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
- First shape
- 0-2-4-1-0-0
Eadd9 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · E–G♯–B–F♯ · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · F♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
Eadd9 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-4-2-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B · F♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
- First shape
- 1-4-2-2
Where Eadd9 usually goes next
Here's what the hand does on the most common changes, on guitar and on piano.
- Eadd9 → A (IV in E major)
Guitar: Eadd9 (0-2-4-1-0-0) to A (x-0-2-2-2-0): your index finger lands on the D string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the B string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Listen for E, which stays put while the rest moves.
Piano: Eadd9 to A: play A in 2nd inversion (E–A–C♯) and E stays under the same finger, while G♯ moves up to A and B up to C♯. A - Eadd9 → B (V in E major)
Guitar: Eadd9 (0-2-4-1-0-0) to B (x-2-4-4-4-2): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the D string, 4th fret, the ring finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the pinky finger comes down on the B string, 4th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. The two chords share B and F♯, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: Eadd9 to B: play B in root position (B–D♯–F♯) and B and F♯ stay under the same fingers, while G♯ moves up to D♯. B - Eadd9 → C♯m (vi in E major)
Guitar: Eadd9 (0-2-4-1-0-0) to C♯m (x-4-6-6-5-4): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger goes to the B string, 5th fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 6th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 6th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: E and G♯.
Piano: Eadd9 to C♯m: play C♯m in 1st inversion (E–G♯–C♯) and E and G♯ stay under the same fingers, while B moves up to C♯. C♯m
Guitar with a capo: capo 4, Cadd9 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 4, Cadd9 shape.
How Eadd9 is built
Eadd9 is E major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. It keeps the bright major sound and adds a shimmer; guitarists love it because the open shapes ring.
Start on E, count 4 half steps up to G♯, 3 half steps up to B then 7 half steps up to F♯.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | root | 0 | |
| G♯ | major third | 4 | |
| B | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| F♯ | ninth | 14 |
Keys and progressions with Eadd9
No major or natural minor key contains Eadd9 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
Chords close to Eadd9
Chords that share most of their notes with Eadd9: E9, E, Esus2, Bsus4, C♯m7, E7.
Every E chord
Eadd9 chord: questions
What notes are in the Eadd9 chord?
E, G♯, B and F♯. Eadd9 is built 1–3–5–9 from E: G♯ is the major third, B is the perfect fifth and F♯ is the ninth.
How do you play Eadd9 on guitar?
The usual shape is 0-2-4-1-0-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Eadd9 on piano?
Play E, G♯, B and F♯ with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. E sits just right of the pair of black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Eadd9 on ukulele?
1-4-2-2 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Eadd9 in?
No major or natural minor key contains Eadd9 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
What's the difference between Eadd9 and E?
Eadd9 is E plus F♯.
Diagrams and sound come from the same data, tested so they match. Updated September 2026.