D Add9
5th FretA-shape moveable add9 rooted on D at fret 5 — barre fret 5 with the index, then reach D fret 7, G fret 9, and B fret 7. Mute the low E. Fully moveable to any root.
D Add9
10th FretCompact voicing on the top four strings — root (D) on D fret 12, 3rd (F#) on G fret 11, 5th (A) on B fret 10, 9th (E) on high e fret 12. A bright, moveable add9 shape.
D Add9
10th Fret (E-shape)E-shape moveable add9 with the root on the low E string at fret 10 — index barres fret 10, ring covers A and D at fret 12, middle on G fret 11, pinky on high e fret 12. A full six-string voicing.
Use the moveable A-shape
The x-5-7-9-7-5 barre at fret 5 is the most reliable Dadd9. It is fully moveable — slide it down to fret 3 for Cadd9 or up to fret 7 for Eadd9.
Top-string brightness
The four-string shape at fret 10 puts the 9th on the high e string, giving a crisp, chiming sound that cuts through a mix.
Mute the low E
On the A-shape, the low E string is not played. Let the tip of your index finger lean against it to keep it quiet.
A bright D substitute
Anywhere a plain D major appears, Dadd9 can replace it for a more open, ringing colour — especially effective in fingerpicked folk and worship parts.
Watch the stretch
The A-shape spans four frets between the barre and the G-string note. Keep your thumb low behind the neck to open up the reach.
About the Dadd9 Chord on Guitar
The Dadd9 chord is built from four notes: D (the root), F# (the major 3rd), A (the perfect 5th), and E (the 9th). It is the D major triad with an added 9th and no 7th — bright and open, with a shimmering colour layered over a firmly major foundation. Unlike Cadd9 or Gadd9, Dadd9 has no easy open-string shape in standard tuning, so its most practical voicings are moveable barre and top-string forms. Dadd9 is a favourite in folk, pop, and worship music, often replacing a plain D major to add air and movement. This page covers three voicings, from a moveable A-shape barre to a top-four-string form and a full E-shape. Every diagram is interactive and playable with acoustic guitar sound.
- 013 Dadd9 chord shapes from intermediate to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04A-shape barre, top-four-string voicing, and an E-shape moveable form
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 4 notes that form the D Add9 chord and their role in the major scale.
Every add9 chord follows this same formula — root, major third, perfect fifth, and the major 9th added on top (no 7th).