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Chord shapes

A♯add9 guitar chord

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Chord diagram

Shape 1 of 4

Aadd9-shape · Frets 1-5

A♯add9

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E
B
G
D
A
Related chords

Shape difficulty

Intermediate

Main challenge: Avoiding unwanted strings so the intended voicing speaks cleanly when you strum through it.

Chord tones

Root notes stay highlighted so the voicing reads faster at a glance.

A♯1F5C9D3
RootChord tone

Notes

Notes in A♯ Add 9

A♯ Add 9 uses A♯ as the root, C♯# as the major third, E♯ as the perfect fifth, and B♯ as the ninth.

A♯

root

1

anchors the chord and gives the voicing its name.

C♯#

major third

3

tells the ear that the chord belongs to the major sound.

E♯

perfect fifth

5

keeps the chord grounded with a stable upper anchor.

B♯

ninth

9

extends the chord upward while leaving the basic triad intact.

Sound and feel

What A♯ Add 9 sounds like

A♯ Add 9 has an open, airy major sound.

Compared with a plain major chord, the added ninth makes the sound feel less closed and a little more spacious.

Playing tips

How to play A♯ Add 9 on guitar

Root anchor

Find the root on the A string at fret 1 before you place the other fingers.

Setup

Place the lowest note first, then stack the rest of the movable shape across frets 1 to 5.

Strum path

Start the strum from the A string so the low E string stay out.

Reach

Land the widest reach first, then drop the remaining finger or fingers into place.

Check

Pick through the strings once before you strum hard, and fix the first dull note you hear.

Position

Check the fret number before each full strum so the whole shape does not drift a fret high or low.

Theory

Why A♯ Add 9 works

Formula1 - 3 - 5 - 9

A♯ Add 9 uses the formula 1 - 3 - 5 - 9.

Compared with A♯ Major, A♯ Add 9 adds B♯ (9).

The ninth sits above the triad as a color tone, so the chord keeps its major identity while sounding broader.

Musical context

Where A♯ Add 9 commonly appears

A♯ Add 9 is easiest to place once you hear which same-root and related-key chords it connects to.

I / IV colorA♯ major

A♯ Add 9 usually appears where a plain major chord would also work, especially on I or IV in acoustic and pop progressions.

A♯ major chord

A♯ Add 9 is more common as a color upgrade to a plain major chord than as a new harmonic function of its own.

expanded major use

A♯ Add 9 is often learned after basic major and suspended shapes because it extends a plain major function without changing the root.

Quick answers

FAQ about A♯ Add 9

Explore next

Related chords and next sounds

Compare simpler versions, related harmony, and matching scales.

Simpler and richer same-root versions

A♯ Major

Strip this color back to the simpler same-root version.

A♯ Sus2

Compare it with another same-root color that changes the feel without changing the note name.

A♯ Major 7

Compare it with another same-root color that changes the feel without changing the note name.

Closely related chords

A♯ Major

Plain major version on the same root for comparison.

D♯ Major

Common IV chord partner in open major-key writing.

F♯# Minor

Relative minor partner that shares part of the same note pool.

Related scales and parent keys

A♯ Major

Parent major scale for the chord’s main key context.

A♯ Major Pentatonic

Lead-guitar scale that keeps the brighter major sound.

A♯ Major Blues

Alternative major color with blues inflection.

Keep exploring

A♯ chords

Compare major, minor, seventh, suspended, power, and added-tone sounds on this root.

All chords

Browse more roots when you want a wider set of chord sounds.

Related scales

Hear which scales sit naturally around this chord sound.

Reference

Quick reference

Keep the notes, formula, and difficulty label in view while you practice.

Notes
A♯, C♯#, E♯, and B♯
Formula
1 - 3 - 5 - 9
Main shape
movable shape
Root string
A string
Featured difficulty
Intermediate

Same root

A# chords

Compare this root across major, minor, suspended, seventh, power, and added-tone colors.