D#add9 Chord on Ukulele
D#add9 = D# – G – A# – F (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Major 9th)
D sharp add9 turns out easier than its neighbors thanks to two conveniences at once: the open G string supplies the third for free, and the E and A strings can be barred together at the first fret to cover the ninth and the fifth in a single motion. Only the C string's third fret, held by a separate finger for the root, needs any individual placement beyond that barre — a genuinely compact three-finger-equivalent shape for a chord type that's often one of the more demanding voicings in a given key.
This chord's ninth sits on top of a fully intact major triad rather than replacing any of its notes, which is exactly why D#add9 sounds like a fuller, more layered version of plain D# major rather than a chord with a genuinely different harmonic identity. Respelled as Ebadd9, it's a favorite of pop and singer-songwriter ukulele arrangements wanting extra shimmer on a tonic or subdominant chord without sacrificing clear major tonality. Because the open G string and the low barre both keep this voicing close to the nut, it has a brighter, more resonant character than D#'s other four-note color chords, several of which climb much higher up the neck.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
Set the E-A barre at the first fret first, since it covers two of the four notes at once, then add the C string's third fret as a separate finger — the order matters less here than with some other chords, since neither element depends on the other being in place first. It's worth comparing this shape directly against D#sus2's similar low barre-plus-individual-finger layout, since the two chords share a family resemblance in hand shape despite sounding genuinely different.
Common Progressions
- A richer stand-in for the plain tonic (D#add9 - G# - A# - D#add9)
- Respelled Ebadd9 - Ab - Bb - Ebadd9, the identical color in flat notation
- vi - IV - I(add9) (Cm - A# - D#add9), softening the final chord of a minor-tinged loop
- D#add9 held under a slow melody line lets the ninth's shimmer register fully before the next change.
FAQ
- Why is D#add9 easier than several of D#'s other color chords?
- Two of its four notes come from a single barre rather than two separate fingers, and a third note needs no fretting at all, so the hand ends up doing noticeably less work than on D#maj7 or D#m7.
- What's the more familiar spelling for this chord?
- Ebadd9, the spelling favored in pop and singer-songwriter arrangements wanting extra shimmer on a tonic chord.
- How does D#add9 differ from D#sus2?
- Add9 keeps the major third intact via the open G string and adds the ninth on top; sus2 removes that third entirely, creating a genuinely different, more ambiguous color rather than simply a fuller one.
- Does D#add9 change a progression's harmonic function?
- No — every note of the plain major triad is present, so substituting it in adds texture without altering what the song is doing harmonically.
- Which string carries the added ninth in this voicing?
- The A string, barred together with the E string at the first fret, producing the ninth alongside the fifth in a single motion.
- Is D#add9 a good chord for a beginner to learn early?
- It's a reasonable one to learn once the E-A barre feels comfortable, since it's genuinely one of the easier four-note color chords in this particular key.
- Does D#add9 sound noticeably different from D#sus2, given how similar their shapes look?
- Yes, quite distinctly — D#add9 keeps its full major third via the open G string, sounding like a fuller D# major, while D#sus2 removes that third entirely for a genuinely more ambiguous color.
- Would this chord work as a passing color chord rather than a destination?
- Yes, briefly landing on D#add9 between two plainer D#-area chords is a common way to add a moment of shimmer without disrupting the progression's underlying harmony.
- How does the finger count for D#add9 compare across this site's other add9 chords?
- It's on the easier end — C#add9 needs four fully independent fingers with no barre, while D#add9 gets to combine two of its four notes into a single barre, cutting the real workload down by one contact point.
D#add9 on other instruments: D#add9 on Guitar, D#add9 on Piano. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.