Badd9 Chord on Ukulele
Badd9 = B – D# – F# – C# (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Major 9th)
B major's triad stays fully intact in Badd9 — nothing gets removed, a ninth (C#) simply gets stacked on top, and that extra note is what asks for a fourth finger here. Reaching all four notes means the index finger takes the E string's second fret, the middle finger the C string's third fret, and the ring and pinky fingers split the fourth fret between the G and A strings, an outer-string pairing that happens to land on the same fret number while the C string's own note sits at a different fret squeezed between them.
Nothing about this chord threatens its major identity — the ninth sits comfortably above the root and third without crowding either, which is exactly the open, chiming quality that made add9 voicings a staple of pop and singer-songwriter writing. Wherever B major would already function, Badd9 can usually stand in for it with extra sparkle: as the V chord of E major it dresses up that dominant with shimmer instead of a flat resolution, and as the I chord of B's own key it lifts the tonic without disturbing its major color. The distinction from a genuine B9 matters here — B9 would also fold in the flattened seventh, A, tipping the chord toward a bluesier, more unresolved sound, while Badd9 keeps its consonance and reads as purely bright. Because the shape needs four fully independent fingers with no barre and no open string to lean on, it also demands more sustained control across the whole hand than most of the other B-family chords covered here.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
Anchor the index finger on the E string's second fret first, then the middle finger on the C string's third fret, and only then spread the ring and pinky fingers out to the fourth fret on the G and A strings — despite matching fret numbers, those two outer fingers sit far enough apart, with the C string's differently-fretted note physically between them, that no barre technique applies. Keep an ear on that C string specifically, since it's squeezed in the middle of the shape and the easiest note to deaden without noticing. Switching between plain B major and Badd9 back and forth is the fastest way to isolate exactly what the ninth contributes on its own. Because none of the four fingers can rely on a neighbor's position for support, it also helps to practice placing all four at once from a fully relaxed hand rather than building the shape up one finger at a time every single repetition.
Common Progressions
- Vadd9, a brighter dominant in the key of E (Badd9 in place of plain B)
- Iadd9 – IV – V, in the key of B (Badd9 – E – F#)
- vi – IV – Iadd9 – V (G#m – E – Badd9 – F#)
- Badd9 often substitutes for a plain V chord wherever extra shimmer suits the cadence.
FAQ
- What's the difference between Badd9 and B9?
- Both keep the same underlying triad, but B9 folds in the flattened seventh, A, on top of what Badd9 already offers, which is what pushes B9 toward a bluesier, less settled dominant-chord sound.
- Why does this shape need four fingers with none sharing a barre?
- Two of its notes land on the fourth fret but on non-adjacent strings, with the C string's third-fret note sitting between them, so a flat barre would catch the wrong note there and can't be used.
- Where does Badd9 typically get used?
- As a brighter substitute for plain B major, especially when B is already functioning as the V chord in the key of E and the arrangement wants extra shimmer on that dominant.
- Which note carries the add9's distinctive brightness?
- The C# note added on top of the triad — comparing this shape directly against plain B major, played back to back, makes that added ring easy to hear.
- Is Badd9 a good chord for a beginner to attempt early?
- Not usually as a first color chord — the lack of any barre or open string to anchor the hand makes it a genuine four-finger independence exercise, better tackled once the simpler B-family triads feel secure.
- Would Badd9 ever be written simply as B in a casual chord chart?
- Occasionally, if the arranger considers the ninth a performance embellishment rather than a defining harmonic choice, but a careful chart distinguishes the two since the extra note is audibly part of the intended sound rather than incidental.
Badd9 on other instruments: Badd9 on Guitar, Badd9 on Piano. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.