E♭add9 chord on guitar

E♭add9 is E♭, G, B♭ and F. The usual shape is x-6-5-3-6-x. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

x-6-5-3-6-x · movable · medium

Notes: E♭ · G · B♭ · F
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
First shape: x-6-5-3-6-x

How to play E♭add9 on guitar

Shape 1, x-6-5-3-6-x, reading from the low E string on the left, starts at the 3rd fret:

Index finger: G string, 3rd fret (B♭).
Middle finger: D string, 5th fret (G).
Ring finger: A string, 6th fret (E♭).
Pinky: B string, 6th fret (F).
Keep the low E and high E strings quiet by touching them lightly with a fretting finger.

The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.
This one reaches. Let the thumb slide lower on the neck and the stretch gets noticeably easier.
Aim the strum at the thinner strings only; the lower ones are marked × for a reason.

Other ways to play E♭add9

11-8-8-10-8-11: partial barre shape at the 8th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.
x-x-13-12-11-13: movable shape at the 11th fret, medium. Only the thinner strings sound, which cuts through a band without getting muddy.

Capo shortcuts for E♭add9

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 3rd fret and play the open Cadd9 shape (x-3-2-0-3-0). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Changing from E♭add9 to the chords around it

These are the changes you'll meet most often with E♭add9, using the first shape of each chord.

A♭ (IV in E♭ major): E♭add9 (x-6-5-3-6-x) to A♭ (4-6-6-5-4-4): your ring finger stays put, the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the pinky finger goes to the D string, 6th fret. Listen for E♭, which stays put while the rest moves. A♭ on guitar
B♭ (V in E♭ major): E♭add9 (x-6-5-3-6-x) to B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the D string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the G string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared notes: B♭ and F. B♭ on guitar
Cm (vi in E♭ major): E♭add9 (x-6-5-3-6-x) to Cm (x-3-1-0-1-3): the index finger goes to the D string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the B string, 1st fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. E♭ and G carry over from one chord to the other. Cm on guitar

E♭add9 is E♭ major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. E♭add9 keeps the major sound and adds sparkle, which makes it a drop-in replacement for E♭ in quiet passages. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice E♭add9 in two minutes

Before strumming, play x-6-5-3-6-x note by note: E♭ then G then B♭ then F. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Next, alternate x-6-5-3-6-x and 11-8-8-10-8-11, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

You may also see it as D♯add9; nothing changes on the guitar.

Where E♭add9 shows up

E♭add9 on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try E♭add9 on ukulele or E♭add9 on piano, or compare them on the E♭add9 chord page.

Related E♭ chords on guitar

Other add 9 chords

E♭add9 on guitar: questions

What notes are in E♭add9 on guitar?

E♭, G, B♭ and F. In the x-6-5-3-6-x shape the strings play E♭ (A string), G (D string), B♭ (G string) and F (B string).

What's the easiest way to play E♭add9 on guitar?

In standard tuning E♭add9 can't use open strings. Begin with x-6-5-3-6-x. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is E♭add9 a barre chord on guitar?

Not usually: x-6-5-3-6-x needs no barre.

Which string does E♭add9 start on?

In the x-6-5-3-6-x shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 6th fret, which is E♭, the root. Skip the low E and high E strings.

Every shape above plays only E♭, G, B♭ and F, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.