Colour chords: 6ths and 9ths
Once you know triads and sevenths, you can add colour with a 6th or a 9th. These notes do not change the chord's job, so a C6 still works wherever a C does. They change its flavour: warmer, brighter, richer or more modern.
| Chord | Formula | Notes on C | Sounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| C6major 6th | 1 3 5 6 | C E G A | warm and old-fashioned, settled |
| Cm6minor 6th | 1 ♭3 5 6 | C E♭ G A | bittersweet and cinematic |
| Cadd9add 9 | 1 3 5 9 | C E G D | shimmering and open |
| C9dominant 9th | 1 3 5 ♭7 9 | C E G B♭ D | funky, rich and relaxed |
| Cmaj9major 9th | 1 3 5 7 9 | C E G B D | lush and glossy |
| Cm9minor 9th | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9 | C E♭ G B♭ D | smooth, deep and rich |
6th chords
Add the 6th above the root (a whole step above the 5th) to a major or minor triad. C6 is C E G A, and Cm6 is C E♭ G A. Both are the same notes as a seventh chord in another position: C6 has the same notes as Am7 (A C E G). The bass note, and the way the chord is used, tells you which it is.
- Major 6: warm and old-fashioned. A traditional ending chord in swing, country and jazz.
- Minor 6: bittersweet and cinematic. Common in minor key endings, bossa nova and gypsy jazz.
The 9th: the same note as the 2nd
The 9th is the 2nd, one octave up. We call it a 9th because it is the next note in the stack of thirds: root, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th. That stack is also why you cannot have a "9th chord" without the seventh. If the seventh is missing, it is an add9.
add9
A major triad with the 9th on top: C E G D. It is the sound of countless pop, rock and worship songs, a major chord that sparkles. It is not a sus2: Csus2 has no third (C D G), while Cadd9 keeps it (C E G D).
Dominant 9 (9)
A dominant 7th with the 9th added: C E G B♭ D. Funky, rich and relaxed, it appears on the V chord and as the main chord of funk and soul vamps.
Major 9 (maj9)
A major 7th chord with the 9th added: C E G B D. Lush and glossy. Common in jazz, neo-soul and lo-fi.
Minor 9 (m9)
A minor 7th with the 9th added: C E♭ G B♭ D. Smooth and deep, and a staple of R&B, soul and jazz ballads.
6/9, minor add9 and add11
Three more colours worth knowing. 6/9 (C6/9 is C E G A D) is a 6th chord with the 9th added: warm, open and finished, the classic last chord of a jazz tune. Minor add9 (Cm(add9) is C E♭ G D) puts the shimmer of the 9th on a minor triad, common in ballads. Add11 (Cadd11 is C E G F) adds the 4th above the octave: the 11th sits right next to the third, so it is quite crunchy and often voiced with the third high or left out.
| Chord | Formula | Notes on C | Sounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| C6/96/9 | 1 3 5 6 9 | C E G A D | warm, open and finished: the classic jazz and pop ending chord |
| Cm(add9)minor add 9 | 1 ♭3 5 9 | C E♭ G D | moody and spacious |
| Cadd11add 11 | 1 3 5 11 | C E G F | open and slightly dissonant, close to a sus4 with the third still in |
How to use them effectively
- Match the family. Add9 and 6 go with major chords, 9 goes with a dominant 7th, maj9 with a maj7, and m9 with an m7. Keep the quality you started with.
- Put the 9th above the root. Placed just above the root, the 9th clashes with the root. Keep it an octave up (or higher) so it sounds like colour, not a clash.
- Leave notes out. A 9th chord does not need all five notes. Drop the fifth (and on guitar, often the root too).
- Use them as the "special" chord. Make the home chord an add9 or the final chord a 6th and let the others stay simple.
How to practise
- Warm-up: tell major, 6th and add9 apart on white-key roots. Note names are on the keys.
- Working set: every root with 6, m6, add9, 9, maj9 and m9. You also build them on the keys.
- Heavy lift: sevenths and ninths side by side. Hear and see the difference between 7 and 9, and between maj7 and maj9.
Learn the seventh chords first if you have not. For the rest of the family, see the chord types guide, the suspended chords, and the shapes in the guitar chord library.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 6th chord?
A triad with the 6th added above the root. C6 is C E G A. It sounds warm and settled, and was a favourite ending chord in swing and early jazz.
What is the difference between add9 and a 9th chord?
An add9 chord adds the 9th to a plain triad (C E G D) with no seventh. A true 9th chord (C9) has the seventh too (C E G B♭ D). Add9 sounds bright and open; the 9th chord sounds bluesy and funky.
What is the difference between add9 and sus2?
Both contain the 2nd (the 9th is the 2nd an octave higher). Csus2 has C D G, with no third. Cadd9 has C E G D, with the third kept in, so it still sounds major.
What is the 9th?
The ninth is the same note as the 2nd, one octave higher. In chord symbols it is written 9 when it sits on top of a seventh chord, because it is the next third up the stack.
What does maj9 mean?
A major 7th chord with the 9th on top (C E G B D). It sounds lush and is a staple of jazz, neo-soul and lo-fi.
What does m9 mean?
A minor 7th chord with the 9th on top (C E♭ G B♭ D). Smooth and deep, common in R&B and neo-soul.
Can I leave out notes from a 9th chord?
Yes, and you usually will. On guitar you often omit the fifth, and sometimes the root. The 3rd, 7th and 9th carry the sound.
What is a 6/9 chord?
A 6th chord with the 9th added (C6/9 is C E G A D). It has no seventh. It sounds warm, open and settled, and is a favourite last chord in jazz and bossa nova.
What about 11th and 13th chords?
They continue the stack of thirds (9th, 11th, 13th) and appear in jazz, funk and gospel. Learn the 6th, 7th and 9th chords first; the rest are extensions of the same idea.