Eadd9 chord on ukulele

Eadd9 is E, G♯, B and F♯. The usual shape is 1-4-2-2. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

1-4-2-2 · movable · medium

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

How to play Eadd9 on ukulele

Shape 1, 1-4-2-2, reading from the G string on the left:

Index finger: G string, 1st fret (G♯).
Middle finger: E string, 2nd fret (F♯).
Ring finger: A string, 2nd fret (B).
Pinky: C string, 4th fret (E).

This shape uses your pinky. It feels weak at first; press with the tip and let the finger stay curved.
The shape stretches across four frets. Bring your thumb lower behind the neck to open the hand up.
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 Eadd9

4-6-4-7: movable shape at the 4th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.
9-8-7-9: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.
11-11-12-11: movable shape at the 11th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Capo shortcuts for Eadd9

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 4th fret and play the open Cadd9 shape (0-2-0-3). The chord sounds as Eadd9 because the capo raises every string by 4 half steps.

Eadd9 chord changes

These are the changes you'll meet most often with Eadd9, using the first shape of each chord.

A (IV in E major): Eadd9 (1-4-2-2) to A (2-1-0-0): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret. The two chords share E, which is why the change sounds smooth. A on ukulele
B (V in E major): Eadd9 (1-4-2-2) to B (4-3-2-2): your index finger lands on the E string, 2nd fret, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, the ring finger goes to the C string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. B and F♯ carry over from one chord to the other. B on ukulele
C♯m (vi in E major): Eadd9 (1-4-2-2) to C♯m (6-4-4-4): your index finger lands on the C string, 4th fret, the middle finger goes to the E string, 4th fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for E and G♯, which stay put while the rest moves. C♯m on ukulele

Eadd9 is E major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. All 4 notes of Eadd9 fit on the ukulele's four strings. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Practice Eadd9 in two minutes

Arpeggiate 1-4-2-2 from the lowest string: G♯, E, F♯, B. Then strum it and listen for the same 4 notes together. Next, alternate 1-4-2-2 and 4-6-4-7, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Eadd9 in context

Eadd9 on guitar and piano

Switching instruments? Try Eadd9 on piano or Eadd9 on guitar, or compare them on the Eadd9 chord page.

Related E chords on ukulele

Other add 9 chords

Eadd9 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Eadd9 on ukulele?

E, G♯, B and F♯. In the 1-4-2-2 shape the strings play G♯ (G string), E (C string), F♯ (E string) and B (A string).

What's the easiest way to play Eadd9 on ukulele?

No open-string Eadd9 exists in standard tuning; 1-4-2-2 is the place to start. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is Eadd9 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not in its common form: 1-4-2-2 needs no barre.

Which string does Eadd9 start on?

In the 1-4-2-2 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 1st fret, which is G♯, the major third.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes E, G♯, B and F♯ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.