Dadd9 chord on ukulele

Dadd9 is D, F♯, A and E. The usual shape is 2-4-2-5. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

2-4-2-5 · movable · medium

Notes: D · F♯ · A · E
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
First shape: 2-4-2-5

How to play Dadd9 on ukulele

Shape 1, 2-4-2-5, reading from the G string on the left, starts at the 2nd fret:

A: index finger, 2nd fret of the G string.
F♯: middle finger, 2nd fret of the E string.
E: ring finger, 4th fret of the C string.
D: pinky finger, 5th fret of the A string.

The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.
A four-fret stretch: drop your wrist a little and point your thumb up the back of the neck.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play Dadd9

7-6-5-7: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. Use it when the next chord sits nearby on the neck.
9-9-10-9: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Dadd9 the capo way

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

Moving between Dadd9 and its neighbours

These are the changes you'll meet most often with Dadd9, using the first shape of each chord.

G (IV in D major): Dadd9 (2-4-2-5) to G (0-2-3-2): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, the ring finger goes to the E string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. D carries over from one chord to the other. G on ukulele
A (V in D major): Dadd9 (2-4-2-5) to A (2-1-0-0): move the index finger to the C string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret. Listen for A and E, which stay put while the rest moves. A on ukulele
Bm (vi in D major): Dadd9 (2-4-2-5) to Bm (4-2-2-2): your middle finger stays put, the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 2nd fret, your pinky finger lands on the G string, 4th fret. Shared notes: D and F♯. Bm on ukulele

Dadd9 is D major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. All 4 notes of Dadd9 fit on the ukulele's four strings. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

Practice Dadd9 in two minutes

Before strumming, play 2-4-2-5 note by note: A then E then F♯ then D. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Next, alternate 2-4-2-5 and 7-6-5-7, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Keys and progressions with Dadd9

Dadd9 on guitar and piano

Switching instruments? Try Dadd9 on piano or Dadd9 on guitar, or compare them on the Dadd9 chord page.

Related D chords on ukulele

Other add 9 chords

Dadd9 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Dadd9 on ukulele?

D, F♯, A and E. In the 2-4-2-5 shape the strings play A (G string), E (C string), F♯ (E string) and D (A string).

What's the easiest way to play Dadd9 on ukulele?

In standard tuning Dadd9 can't use open strings. Begin with 2-4-2-5. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is Dadd9 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not usually: 2-4-2-5 needs no barre.

Which string does Dadd9 start on?

In the 2-4-2-5 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A, the perfect fifth.

Every shape above plays only D, F♯, A and E, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.