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Chord · Reference entry

G♯ Add 9

Add 9 · G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – A♯ · intervals P1-M3-P5-M9

The G♯ Add 9 chord (G♯add9) contains the notes G♯, B♯, D♯, and A♯. Its interval formula is R-M3-P5-M9. A major triad plus the 9th — chimey and open, the staple of modern pop and folk songwriting.

A♭ Add 9
This is the same chord as A♭ Add 9 — the same keys on the keyboard, spelled with flats.

At the keyboard

G# · B# · D# · A#
Flashcards · Chord
Three questions on G♯ Add 9
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G♯add9

The G♯ Add 9 chord is a four-note chord made up of G♯, B♯, D♯, and A♯. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, and major ninth.

Construction

G♯ Add 9 = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 2nd = G♯ · B♯ · D♯ · A♯
NoteIntervalDegree
G♯Root1
B♯Major 3rd3
D♯Perfect 5th5
A♯Major 2nd2

G♯ Add 9 Inversions

G# Add 9 piano chord, 1st inversion — B♯, D♯, A♯, G♯
The G# Add 9 chord, 1st inversion, on a piano keyboard.
G# Add 9 piano chord, 2nd inversion — D♯, A♯, G♯, B♯
The G# Add 9 chord, 2nd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
G# Add 9 piano chord, 3rd inversion — A♯, G♯, B♯, D♯
The G# Add 9 chord, 3rd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
PositionNotes
Root PositionG♯ – B♯ – D♯ – A♯
1st InversionB♯ – D♯ – A♯ – G♯
2nd InversionD♯ – A♯ – G♯ – B♯
3rd InversionA♯ – G♯ – B♯ – D♯

Key Signature

A chord has no key signature of its own, but the G♯ Add 9 is the tonic (I) chord of G# Major, whose key signature has 4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭).

B♭E♭A♭D♭

Order of flats

Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.

BEADGCF

Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

Chords in the Key of G♯ Major

These are the triads built on each degree of the G♯ major scale:

C1C2C3C4B♯C6C7C8G♯D♯
IG♯ Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IG♯ MajorMajor
2iiA♯ MinorMinor
3iiiC MinorMinor
4IVC♯ MajorMajor
5VD♯ MajorMajor
6viF MinorMinor
7vii°G DiminishedDiminished

Same Notes, Other Names

The notes G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – A♯ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:

G♯ Add 9 — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the G♯ Add 9 chord on piano?
The G♯ Add 9 chord contains the notes G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – A♯. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the G# Add 9 chord?
G# Add 9 is built from the G# root. Check the interactive keyboard above for exact notes and fingering.
How is the G# Add 9 chord used in music?
G# Add 9 appears in jazz, pop, and classical contexts. Its sound depends on the chord quality (Add 9).
What is the fingering for G# Add 9?
See the fingering chart above. Right hand typically uses thumb on root. Left hand uses pinky on root.
What are the inversions of G# Add 9?
Use the inversion buttons above to see each inversion with notes, fingering, and staff notation.

Related Tools

Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this chord page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    Goetschius, Percy(1889)

    The Material Used in Musical Composition

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Riemann, Hugo(1896)

    Harmony Simplified (English translation)

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    George Grove (ed.)(1900)

    A Dictionary of Music and Musicians

    Public domain treatise
  4. 4

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Entry reviewed and maintained by Justin Evans. Corrections are read and applied.Report an error

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