Badd9 chord on ukulele

Badd9 is B, D♯, F♯ and C♯. The usual shape is 4-3-2-4. Tap Play, then slow it down.

4-3-2-4 · movable · medium

Notes: B · D♯ · F♯ · C♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
First shape: 4-3-2-4

How to play Badd9 on ukulele

Shape 1, 4-3-2-4, reading from the G string on the left, starts at the 2nd fret:

Index finger: E string, 2nd fret (F♯).
Middle finger: C string, 3rd fret (D♯).
Ring finger: G string, 4th fret (B).
Pinky: A string, 4th fret (C♯).

Your little finger has a job in this shape; it gets stronger in a week or two of short daily practice.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play Badd9

6-6-7-6: movable shape at the 6th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.

Badd9 chord changes

The chords Badd9 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

E (IV in B major): Badd9 (4-3-2-4) to E (1-4-0-2): move the index finger to the G string, 1st fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the C string at the same fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. B carries over from one chord to the other. E on ukulele
F♯ (V in B major): Badd9 (4-3-2-4) to F♯ (3-1-2-1): move the index finger to the C string, 1st fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 1st fret, your ring finger lands on the E string, 2nd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. F♯ and C♯ carry over from one chord to the other. F♯ on ukulele
G♯m (vi in B major): Badd9 (4-3-2-4) to G♯m (4-3-4-2): your middle and ring fingers stay put, the index finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, the pinky finger slides across to the E string at the same fret. Shared notes: B and D♯. G♯m on ukulele

Badd9 is B major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. All 4 notes of Badd9 fit on the ukulele's four strings. On ukulele you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

A short Badd9 drill

Before strumming, play 4-3-2-4 note by note: B then D♯ then F♯ then C♯. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Finish by moving between 4-3-2-4 and 6-6-7-6 to learn two positions of the same chord.

Keys and progressions with Badd9

Badd9 on guitar and piano

Badd9 on guitar and piano uses the same 4 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Related B chords on ukulele

Other add 9 chords

Badd9 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Badd9 on ukulele?

B, D♯, F♯ and C♯. In the 4-3-2-4 shape the strings play B (G string), D♯ (C string), F♯ (E string) and C♯ (A string).

What's the easiest way to play Badd9 on ukulele?

No open-string Badd9 exists in standard tuning; 4-3-2-4 is the place to start. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is Badd9 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 4-3-2-4 needs no barre.

Which string does Badd9 start on?

In the 4-3-2-4 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 4th fret, which is B, the root.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Badd9. Updated September 2026.