B♭add9 chord on ukulele

B♭add9 is B♭, D, F and C. The usual shape is 3-2-1-3. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

3-2-1-3 · movable · medium

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

How to play B♭add9 on ukulele

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

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

The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.
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 B♭add9

5-5-6-5: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.

Changing from B♭add9 to the chords around it

These are the changes you'll meet most often with B♭add9, using the first shape of each chord.

E♭ (IV in B♭ major): B♭add9 (3-2-1-3) to E♭ (0-3-3-1): the index finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, your middle finger lands on the C string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the E string, 3rd 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): B♭add9 (3-2-1-3) to F (2-0-1-0): your index finger stays put, the middle finger slides across to the G string at the same fret. An easy one to get up to speed. Shared notes: F and C. F on ukulele
Gm (vi in B♭ major): B♭add9 (3-2-1-3) to Gm (0-2-3-1): your middle finger stays put, the index finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, the ring finger goes to the E string, 3rd fret. B♭ and D carry over from one chord to the other. Gm on ukulele

B♭add9 is B♭ major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. All 4 notes of B♭add9 fit on the ukulele's four strings. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Getting B♭add9 under your fingers

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: B♭, D, F, C. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 5-5-6-5 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Written A♯add9, it's the same chord with the same frets.

Where B♭add9 shows up

B♭add9 on guitar and piano

Switching instruments? Try B♭add9 on piano or B♭add9 on guitar, or compare them on the B♭add9 chord page.

Close to B♭add9

Other add 9 chords

B♭add9 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in B♭add9 on ukulele?

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

What's the easiest way to play B♭add9 on ukulele?

No open-string B♭add9 exists in standard tuning; 3-2-1-3 is the place to start. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is B♭add9 a barre chord on ukulele?

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

Which string does B♭add9 start on?

In the 3-2-1-3 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 3rd fret, which is B♭, the root.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes B♭, D, F and C and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.