Opening the Beauty of the Piano Add9 Chord: An Introduction to How to Play and Use It
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The piano is a universe of harmonic possibility, with every chord opening up new emotional ground. And of these rich harmonic tools, the Add9 chord stands alone in its brilliant, sweeping beauty. Whether you are a composer looking to introduce color into your chords or a pianist looking to add expressive depth, the Add9 chord is a simple yet powerful way to elevate your music. Here's everything you need to know about why the Add9 chord stands out, how to use it, and why you'll love it.
What Is a Piano Add9 Chord?
The Add9 chord is a triad with an added ninth—i.e., it's constructed out of root, third, fifth, and ninth of a scale. Unlike a sus9 or a dominant ninth, though, the Add9 does not include a seventh. This keeps the chord harmonically open, avoiding the tension of typical ninth chords but keeping their ethereal feel.
For example:
C Add9 consists of C - E - G - D (Root - Major Third - Perfect Fifth - Major Ninth)
D Add9 consists of D - F# - A - E
G Add9 consists of G - B - D - A
Performed on the piano, this chord sounds lush and dreamy. The added ninth—a whole step above the root—has an airy, unresolved flavor to it, and can evoke a sense of wonder, nostalgia, or even longing.
How Is the Add9 Chord Used in Music?
The Add9 chord appears in all types of music, from pop and jazz standards to classical compositions and film scores. It's employed in some of the following ways:
1. Adding Lushness to Chord Progressions
One of the most useful things to do with the Add9 chord is to replace root triads. Instead of playing a simple C major chord, using C Add9 adds richness to the sound. This is very useful when used to accompany vocals or when composing ambient music.
2. Providing Emotional Depth to Ballads
Most songwriters rely on the Add9 to write introspective or heartfelt ballads. The muted dissonance of the ninth adds a tender touch that makes a progression sound genuine.
3. Adding Motion to Stuck Chords
The Add9 chord sounds great broken or arpeggiated. Starting from the root and ninth and arpeggiating up and down gives a smooth, waterfall sound often used in ambient and cinematic music.
4. Extending Jazz and Neo-Soul Harmony
In jazz and neo-soul, where there are so many extended chords, the Add9 can serve as a stepping stone to more advanced harmonies. Adding a ninth to major chords provides the subtle shading that jazz pianists seek.
Add9 vs Sus2 Chords
Beginners might confuse Add9 chords with sus2 chords as both contain a ninth-degree note. There is, however, a very differentiating point:
A sus2 chord replaces the third with the second, which sounds more questionable.
An Add9 chord keeps the third but adds the ninth, with a full major or minor harmony.
To illustrate, C Add9 (C - E - G - D) keeps the major third (E), while C sus2 (C - D - G) omits the third altogether.
Playing Add9 Chords Successfully on Piano
To maximize the use of Add9 chords, use these techniques:
Voicing Is Important: Experiment with where you place the ninth. Keeping the ninth in a higher octave seems to give it a more airy, open sound.
Arpeggiation: Instead of sounding the chord as a large block, experiment with arpeggiating it into individual notes for improved playability.
Inversions: Changing the ninth to a different position within an inversion can transform the personality of the chord dramatically.
Pedaling with Pedal: Using the sustain pedal, the ninth sounds out so richly to create a broad resonating sound.
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