G# add9 Piano Chord

Piano Diagram of G# add9 in Root Position

To form a G# add9 chord, you simply include a 9th note (A#) to a G# Major chord (G#, B#, D#). Such chords are referred to as added tone chords as they involve the addition of supplementary intervals to a triad. The G# add9 chord is distinct from the G#9 chord because it doesn’t have a 7th, whereas the G#9 chord includes the 7th note. Continue reading to discover additional information about the fundamentals of added tone chords and their applications in music.

 

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Extended chords can be difficult to play in their entirety on the piano due to the large number of notes involved or the distance between intervals like in this case. To simplify these chords, pianists often omit certain notes (usually the Root or the fifth) or split the chord between both hands. However, even with these simplifications, extended chords can create complex and dense harmonies, making voicing a challenging task.

 

G# add9  Chord Inversions

G# add9 chord has a total of 3 inversions:

Piano Keyboard Diagrams

 

Chord Inversions on Piano

Chord inversions are a crucial concept in music theory as they allow for a greater understanding of how chords are constructed and how they can be used in progressions.

However, it’s important to note that the diagrams depicting the sequence of notes in a chord inversion on a piano keyboard may not always translate to practical playing.

This is because proper chord voicings involve distributing the notes of the chord across different octaves and positions on the keyboard, which may differ from the basic shape of the chord’s inversions.

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Music Theory and Harmony of G# Add9

 

Building the G# add9 Chord: Different Approaches

Starting from the G# Major Scale:

To build an Add 9 chord, begin by using the Major scale as a reference and selecting the Root, 3rd, 5th, and 9th notes.

 

 

 

Here are the steps to get the G# add9 chord using the formula R, 3, 5, 9:

1. Begin with the Root note, which is G#.
2. Add the 3rd note, which is B#.
3. Include the 5th note, which is D#.
4. Finally, add the 9th note, which is A#.

 

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by Combining Intervals:

Another approach to building an Add 9 chord involves combining particular intervals, such as a major 3rd, minor 3rd, and perfect 5th.

3 + m3 + 5 = add9 chords

For example, to create a G# add9 chord, you can layer

• G#-B# (a major 3rd),
• B#-D# (a minor 3rd),
• and D#-A# (a perfect 5th) on top of each other.

 

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How to Use G# add9 in a Chord Progression

 

In music theory, the concept of harmonic function refers to the role a chord plays in a musical composition. A stable harmonic function is associated with a chord that provides a sense of rest or resolution, while a dominant harmonic function creates a sense of tension or instability that often leads to a resolution to a stable chord.

The harmonic function of a G# add9 chord is not fixed and can vary based on the surrounding harmonic context and the musical composition. For instance, when a G# add9 chord follows a dominant chord like D#7, it functions as a stable chord that resolves the preceding tension.

However, in other situations, such as in a chord progression in the key of C# major, the G# add9 chord can serve as a dominant chord.

It is helpful to explore which scales and degrees include a G# Maj7 or G#7 chord, which can potentially be substituted with a G# add9 chord.

on Major Scales

• Tonic chord in Ab Major as Ab add9
• Subdominant chord in Eb Major as Ab add9
• Dominant chord in C# Major

on Natural minor Scales

• Mediant chord in F minor as Ab add9
• Submediant chord in C minor as Ab add9
• Leading tone chord in A# minor

 

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G# add9 in G# Major

Check Ab add9 in Ab Major

 

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G# add9 in D# Major

Check Ab add9 in Eb Major

 

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G# add9 in C# Major

Another way to incorporate the G# add9 chord into music is by using it as a substitution for the dominant chord in the key of C# major.

In this case, the G# add9 chord can be seen as a variation of the G# Major 7 chord, which serves as the fifth degree of the C# major scale. When played in a ii-V-I progression, the G# add9 chord on the fifth degree can function as the dominant chord that leads to the resolution on the first degree.

While this may not be the most conventional use of the G# add9 chord, it’s worth noting that the 9th (A#) corresponds with the 5th of the ii degree (D# min7) and with the 6th of the C# major chord, creating an interesting resolution towards the fifth note (G#) of the tonic chord.

 

G# add9 as V degree – Chord Progressions

To hear how the add9 chord can work as a substitute for the dominant (V degree) in a chord progression, you can experiment with playing the following chord progression:

ii V I

(Start with the 3rd inversion of D# min7, which includes the notes C#, D#, F#, and A#; then move to the root position of G# add9, which includes the notes G#, B#, D#, and A#; and finally play the 3rd inversion of C# Maj7, which includes the notes B#, C#, E#, G#. )

I IV V

 

 I V vi IV

 

I IV vi V

 

 I IV ii V iii vi ii V

 

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G# add9 in E# minor

Check Ab add9 in F minor

 

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G# add9  in B# minor

Check Ab add9 in C minor

 

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G# add9  in A# minor

Another way to use the G# add9 chord is as a substitution for the leading tone chord in the key of A# minor. In this context, the G# add9 chord functions as a variation of the G#7 chord, serving as the VII degree of the A# minor scale.

 

G# add9 as VII degree – Chord Progressions

Play the following chords to hear how the G# add9 works as a substitution for the leading tone (VII degree) in a chord progression.

I suggest playing the first inversion of A# min7 (C#, E#, G#, A#), the second inversion of F# Maj7 (C#, E#, F#, A#), and the root position of G# add9 (G#, B#, D#, A#).

By using these chords, the highest note in each chord will be an A#, which creates a consistent and stable sound. Then, you can transition from the G# add9 chord to a G# major chord by simply moving the ninth (A#) down to a G# note.

 

i VI VII

 

i v VI VII

 

i III VII VI

 

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Add9 and Add2 Chords: Similarities and Differences

Add9 and add2 chords are similar in that they both contain the second note of the major scale as an additional note to the basic triad. However, the difference between the two is that the add9 chord includes the second note an octave higher, whereas the add2 chord includes the second note as it is in the scale.

The Debate Around Add2 and Add4 Chords

There is some debate about the usefulness of add2 and add4 chords as distinct entities.

Add2 chords are made by:

• the Root,
• the 2nd,
• the 3rd,
• and the 5th,

while add4 chords are made by:

• the Root,
• the 3rd,
• the 4th
• and the 5th.

These chords can sound pretty dissonant in their root position due to the cluster of notes they create. However, playing the 2nd or 4th note at a higher octave can help reduce the dissonance.

To achieve a more harmonically pleasing sound, it’s better to use add9 and add11 chords, which still include the desired note.

If we really need to add a 2nd or 4th note, we should omit the 3rd, which is exactly what suspended chords (sus2 and sus4) are designed for.

 

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Alternative Names for G# add9 Chord

• G# add9
• Sol# add9
• G# (add9)
• G# add(9)
• G# add 9th

 

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Conclusion

The chord progressions and examples presented in this post provide a comprehensive overview of the most common uses of the G# add9 chord. It’s important to note, however, that many advanced harmony-related topics could not be included due to space constraints. These topics include chord progressions built on harmonic and melodic scales, modal scales, hidden tonality, secondary dominants and other chord substitutions, non-functional harmony and atonal music, modal interchange and borrowed chords, voice leading and counterpoint, chromatisms, jazz harmony…I mean, music theory is a huge topic!

Although I couldn’t cover all of these topics in my post, I encourage readers to continue exploring these areas in their study and research. By expanding your knowledge in these advanced areas of music theory, you can gain a deeper understanding of the harmonic possibilities that exist beyond the basics presented here.