Fadd9 chord on guitar

Fadd9 is F, A, C and G. The usual shape is x-x-3-2-1-3. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

x-x-3-2-1-3 · movable · medium

Notes: F · A · C · G
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
First shape: x-x-3-2-1-3

How to play Fadd9 on guitar

Shape 1, x-x-3-2-1-3, reading from the low E string on the left:

C: index finger, 1st fret of the B string.
A: middle finger, 2nd fret of the G string.
F: ring finger, 3rd fret of the D string.
G: pinky finger, 3rd fret of the high E string.
Strum from the D string down; the low E and A strings stay silent.

This shape uses your pinky. It feels weak at first; press with the tip and let the finger stay curved.
Only four strings sound, so strum from the string marked first and aim your pick at the treble strings.

Other ways to play Fadd9

x-8-7-5-8-x: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. The root is on the A string; it's the Aadd9 shape moved up the neck.
13-10-10-12-10-13: partial barre shape at the 10th fret, medium. Higher up the neck it sounds brighter; handy when another guitar is already playing a lower shape.
x-x-15-14-13-15: movable shape at the 13th fret, medium. Fewer strings, so it sounds lighter and is quicker to change to.

Playing Fadd9 with a capo

A capo turns an open chord into Fadd9: capo on the 1st fret and play the open Eadd9 shape (0-2-4-1-0-0) or capo on the 5th fret and play the open Cadd9 shape (x-3-2-0-3-0). Handy when the rest of the song's chords also have open shapes in that position.

Moving between Fadd9 and its neighbours

These are the changes you'll meet most often with Fadd9, using the first shape of each chord.

B♭ (IV in F major): Fadd9 (x-x-3-2-1-3) to B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the D string, 3rd fret, the ring finger slides across to the G string at the same fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Listen for F, which stays put while the rest moves. B♭ on guitar
C (V in F major): Fadd9 (x-x-3-2-1-3) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): your index finger stays put, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the A string at the same fret. Shared notes: C and G. C on guitar
Dm (vi in F major): Fadd9 (x-x-3-2-1-3) to Dm (x-x-0-2-3-1): your middle finger stays put, the index finger slides across to the high E string at the same fret, the ring finger goes to the B string, 3rd fret. F and A carry over from one chord to the other. Dm on guitar

Fadd9 is F major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. Fadd9 keeps the major sound and adds sparkle, which makes it a drop-in replacement for F in quiet passages. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Getting Fadd9 under your fingers

Arpeggiate x-x-3-2-1-3 from the lowest string: F, A, C, G. Then strum it and listen for the same 4 notes together. Next, alternate x-x-3-2-1-3 and x-8-7-5-8-x, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Where Fadd9 shows up

Fadd9 on piano and ukulele

Fadd9 on piano and ukulele uses the same 4 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Related F chords on guitar

Other add 9 chords

Fadd9 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Fadd9 on guitar?

F, A, C and G. In the x-x-3-2-1-3 shape the strings play F (D string), A (G string), C (B string) and G (high E string).

What's the easiest way to play Fadd9 on guitar?

Fadd9 has no open-string shape in standard tuning, so every version needs a barre or a stretch. Start with x-x-3-2-1-3. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is Fadd9 a barre chord on guitar?

Not in its common form: x-x-3-2-1-3 needs no barre.

Which string does Fadd9 start on?

In the x-x-3-2-1-3 shape the lowest string you play is the D string at the 3rd fret, which is F, the root. Skip the low E and A strings.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Fadd9. Updated September 2026.