A9 chord on ukulele

A9 is A, C♯, E, G and B. The usual shape is 2-1-3-2. Tap Play, then slow it down.

2-1-3-2 · movable · medium

Notes: A · C♯ · E · G · B
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
First shape: 2-1-3-2

How to play A9 on ukulele

Shape 1, 2-1-3-2, reading from the G string on the left:

Put your index finger on the C string at the 1st fret, which is C♯.
Put your middle finger on the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A.
Put your ring finger on the A string at the 2nd fret, which is B.
Put your pinky finger on the E string at the 3rd fret, which is G.

The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.
On ukulele you strum all four strings. The top G string is tuned higher than the C, which is why ukulele chords sound bright and close.

Other ways to play A9

4-7-5-4: movable shape at the 4th fret, medium. Same notes, stacked differently, so it sounds a little different.
12-11-9-12: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. Higher up the neck it sounds brighter; handy when another guitar is already playing a lower shape.

Changing from A9 to the chords around it

These are the changes you'll meet most often with A9, using the first shape of each chord.

D (dominant, pulls to the chord a fifth below): A9 (2-1-3-2) to D (2-2-2-0): move the index finger to the G string, 2nd fret, the middle finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the E string at the same fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared note: A. D on ukulele
Dmaj7 (I in D major): A9 (2-1-3-2) to Dmaj7 (2-2-2-4): the index finger goes to the G string, 2nd fret, the middle finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the E string at the same fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. The two chords share A and C♯, which is why the change sounds smooth. Dmaj7 on ukulele
Bm7 (vi in D major): A9 (2-1-3-2) to Bm7 (2-2-2-2): your index finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, the middle finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the E string at the same fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Listen for A and B, which stay put while the rest moves. Bm7 on ukulele

A9 is a dominant ninth: A7 with the ninth on top. With four strings, shape 1 leaves out the perfect fifth (E); the ear fills it in, and the chord still reads as A9. The usual guitar shape, 5-4-2-0-0-0, has room for all of them. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Getting A9 under your fingers

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: A, C♯, G, B. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Next, alternate 2-1-3-2 and 4-7-5-4, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Keys and progressions with A9

A9 on guitar and piano

A9 on guitar and piano uses the same 5 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Close to A9

Other dominant ninth chords

A9 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in A9 on ukulele?

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

What's the easiest way to play A9 on ukulele?

A9 has no open-string shape in standard tuning, so every version needs a barre or a stretch. Start with 2-1-3-2. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is A9 a barre chord on ukulele?

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

Which string does A9 start on?

In the 2-1-3-2 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A, the root.

Every shape above plays only A, C♯, E, G and B, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.