[HANASHIR:11762] chord name clarification: 9 vs. add9

[ekomar <ekomar...>]

Chevrei - 

Please allow me to clarify an error often made regarding what is referred to as 
a "9" chord. I am talking about major chords with the 9th added to it. For 
instance, I have seen "C9" used to refer to a C with the 9th (D) played on the 
3rd fret of the 2nd string, or "D9" for a D with the 1st string left open, 
revealing the 9th (E).

These beautiful sounding chords, which are found in a lot of today's music, are 
NOT "9" chords, but rather "add9" (See songs by Rick Recht, Dan Nichols, and 
other contemporaries in "The Complete Shireinu" as examples). 

A "9" chord is a COMPLETELY different chord. Rather than being based on a major 
chord, it is a 7 chord plus the 9th. E.g., an actual C9 is C E G Bb (the 
dominant 7th) and D (the 9th). D9 is D F# A C (the dominant 7th) and E (the 
9th). 

The 9 chord is found extensively in jazz and blues. You will rarely hear a song 
from these genres that does not use it. But it is rarely used in Jewish, pop, 
or (non-bluesy) rock music, which most of us play.

So how does one play a 9th chord on the guitar? Here's a C9:

1st string:    3rd fret    3rd finger (G)
2nd string:    3rd fret    3rd finger (D)
3rd string:    3rd fret    3rd finger (Bb) (yes, the top 3 strings are barred)
4th string:    2nd fret   1st finger (E)
5th string:    3rd fret    2nd finger (C) - ***your root
6th string:    not played

The beauty of this fingering is that it is completely movable. You can play any 
9 chord as long as your 2nd finger is on the 5th string on the fret that is the 
chord's root (the letter name of the chord). E.g., for a D9, simply put your 
2nd finger is on the 5th string's 5th fret (D) and then form the above 
fingering.

Of course, it helps to know the notes up the 5th string. Here are the naturals:

2nd fret: B (B9 is played staring with the 2nd finger on the 5th string's 2nd 
fret)
3rd fret: C (see the C9 example above)
5th fret: D
7th fret: E
8th fret: F
10th fret: G
12th fret: A (although see the chord fingering chart in the back of "Complete 
Shireinu" for an easier A9)


There, you've just had a free guitar lesson. :)

Happy strummin'.
- Eric

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Eric Komar
Jewish Music Specialist / Songleader
NY / NJ Area
212.781.9262, mobile 646.489.4323
Website: www.librarystuff.net/eric