Minor add2 and add9 chords

The minor add2 and add9 chords are similar to the add2 chord and add9 chord; but adds a note to minor chord instead to a major chord. A common minor chord includes the first, the minor third and the fifth notes in its scale. By adding the second or ninth note, you get an madd2 or madd9 chord respectively.

By adding the 9th note to a minor chord, it will result in a very melodic and pretty sound. It will among other things sound great in arpeggios. The 9th will probably sound best if added as a middle or top voice and not in the bass which will sound somewhat vague.

So if C minor is used as an example, what happen is that C, Eb and G changes to C, D, Eb and G (Cmadd2), or to C, Eb, G and D (Cmadd9). The notes are the same, only the order differ, and because of that you could play madd2 when madd9 is mentioned and vice versa.

Minor add2

Cmadd2

  • Cmadd2 chord diagram X5554X

Dmadd2

  • Dmadd2 chord diagram

Emadd2

  • Emadd2 chord diagram

Fmadd2

  • Fmadd2 chord diagram

Gmadd2

  • Gmadd2 chord diagram

Amadd2

  • Amadd2 chord diagram

Bmadd2

  • Bmadd2 chord diagram

Comments

The Cmadd2 version presented is more correctly named Cmadd2/D (note that this shape is movable). It's difficult to find proper shapes for this chord, but you can see an alternative below. An easier way to play Dmadd2 is as X03230, in which case the correct chord name is Dmadd2/A. A choice for Amadd2 with less stretch is X32200, correctly spelled Amadd2/C (with the 3rd in the bass will also result in a 13maj chord, i.e. Cmaj13 in this case).

The minor add2 is close related to the minor add9 and are in a sense equivalent. Yet, if you are meticulous with the sound, you probably want the added tone closer to the root note when choosing minor add2 instead for minor add9.

Another possible abbreviation for these chords are Cmin add2, Dmin add2 and so on.

Here are additional fingerings in open position for this chord category:

Bmadd2/D: X5442X
Dmadd2: X532X0
Fmadd2: XX3113
Bbmadd2/Db: X4331X

Minor add 2th with flats and sharps

Additional chords in this category:

C sharp / D flat madd2: X6665X
D sharp / E flat madd2: 111342
F sharp / G flat madd2: 20412X
G sharp / A flat madd2: X6630X
A sharp / B flat madd2: X3332X

Chord progressions

Progressions using minor add2 chords:

Em – Emadd2 – Am – Asus4

C – Cadd9 – Am/B – Dmadd2/A – G

A – Dmadd2/A – G7add6/B – A (see tab)

(The chord name Amsus4 doesn't exist).

tab chord progression

Minor add9

Cmadd9

  • Cmadd9 chord diagram

Dmadd9

  • Dmadd9 chord diagram

Emadd9

  • Emadd9 chord diagram

Fmadd9

  • Fmadd9 chord diagram

Gmadd9

  • Gmadd9 chord diagram

Amadd9

  • Amadd9 chord diagram

Bmadd9

  • Bmadd9 chord diagram

Comments

Emadd9 can also be played as 020020. Cmadd9 can also be played as X31033 (compare this shape with Cm9). The Gmadd2 shape can be played by involving the thumb on the 6th string; it can also be played as X00333, which is more correctly named Gmadd2/A, or as 3003XX.

The presented barre diagram (Bmadd9) is movable and based on the Emadd shape.

Another possible abbreviation for these chords are Cmin add9, Dmin add9 and so on.

Chord progressions

Progressions using minor add9 chords:

Emadd9 – Am9 – Dadd9 – G6

Emadd9 – Cadd9 – Gadd2

Dmadd9 – Fmaj7/A – Am7 – Dmadd9 (see tab)

A suggestion is to play Am9 as X05500.


tab chord progression


Another minor add chord in short notation:
Bbm add9 68 10 666

Other minor added chord types

Next to minor add9 and add2 chords there are also minor add 4 and add 11 chords, which as is the case with added 9th and 2nd are identical – the 11th note is same as the 4th one octave higher.

Here are examples of add11 (add4) chords including inversions:

Bmadd11: X54400

More examples will follow.



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