Add Chords Explained - Add9 And Add2

pianochord.org

• Major Chords
• Minor Chords
• More Chords
• Explore
• Premium

• C
• C#
• Db
• D
• D#
• Eb
• E
• F
• F#
• Gb
• G
• G#
• Ab
• A
• A#
• Bb
• B

Add chords

Added tone chords are major triads with an extra note added. They are abbreviated as "add" and there are mainly two types: add9 and add2 (there are also the less common add11 and add4). In the add9 the ninth tone in the scale is added and for the add2 the second tone in the scale is added. See diagrams of add chords*:

C add D add E add F add G add A add B add

Cm add Dm add Em add Fm add Gm add Am add Bm add

C add11 D add11 E add11 F add11 G add11 A add11 B add11

* To avoid too high information density, only naturals are listed. You can easily reach, for example C#add or Dbadd, by first click on "C add" and when clicking on the next chord.

Theory

Summarizing theory of this chord category is presented here.

Comparing the C Major Chord with the two main types of added chords: C: C – E – G Cadd9: C – E – G – D Cadd2: C – D – E – G

As you may notice, it is actually the same tone that is added to the C Major, but on different octaves. Summarizing theory of this chord category is presented here.

Comparing the C Major Chord with the less common add11 and add4: C: C – E – G Cadd11: C – E – G – F Cadd4: C – E – F – G

As seen above, add11 and add4 includes the same notes, but with different order. The eleventh is the same note as the fourth, but extended into the next octave.

A comparison between a regular C minor chord and a minor added chords would look like: Cm: C – Eb – G Cmadd9: C – Eb – G – D Cmadd2: C – D - Eb – G

It should also be mentioned that add6 chords exists and are played by the same principles as explained above. This variant is, however, very rare. Also, 6add9 exist, but are more commonly written 6/9.

For more in-depth about music theory, see Chord Theory for Piano eBook.

Chord categories

Major chords Minor chords Seventh chords Extended chords Sus chords Dim chords Aug Chords Add Chords Altered Chords

Home Sitemap About Copyright © 2026 Pianochord.org