HandyChords

Amaj9 chord on guitar

A Major Ninth. Notes: A, C#, E, G# and B.

Amaj9 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 2×1E53B91C#34G#7AEBC#G#
Barre at fret 2 · Medium

How to play Amaj9

  1. Lay your index finger flat across the 4th (D) to the 2nd (B) string at fret 2. This is the barre.
  2. Put your ring finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 4 (B).
  3. Put your pinky finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 4 (G#).
  4. Let the open A string ring.
  5. Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
  6. Strum from the A string down.
Lowest note: A (the root)Strings played: 5 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play Amaj9

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
Amaj9 guitar chord, barre at fret 2×1E53B91C#34G#7AEBC#G#

Barre at fret 2

Medium
Amaj9 guitar chord, fret 5 position5fr×2G#73C#31E54B9AG#C#EB

Fret 5 position

Medium
Amaj9 guitar chord, barre at fret 44fr2AR1C#34G#71B93E5AC#G#BEE

Barre at fret 4

Medium
Amaj9 guitar chord, barre at fret 1211fr×2E52AR1C#34G#73B9EAC#G#B

Barre at fret 12

Hard

Notes and theory

Aroot
C#3 · major third
E5 · perfect fifth
G#7 · major seventh
B9 · ninth

The major ninth extends a major seventh with a ninth. It is one of the richest-sounding major chords. The formula is 1 3 5 7 9.

Amaj9 on ukuleleAmaj9 on piano

More A chords

All A guitar chords
A guitar chord diagram×1E52AR3C#3AEAC#EAmajorAm guitar chord diagram×2E53AR1Cb3AEACEAmminorA7 guitar chord diagram×2E53C#3AEGC#EA7dominant seventhAm7 guitar chord diagram×2E51Cb3AEGCEAm7minor seventhAmaj7 guitar chord diagram×2E51G#73C#3AEG#C#EAmaj7major seventhAsus4 guitar chord diagram×1AR2D4ADADEAsus4suspended fourthAsus2 guitar chord diagram×2E53ARAEABEAsus2suspended secondAdim guitar chord diagram××1Ebb53AR2Cb3AEbACAdimdiminishedAaug guitar chord diagram×4F#52AR3C#31F#5AFAC#FAaugaugmentedA6 guitar chord diagram×1E51AR1C#31F#6AEAC#F#A6major sixthA9 guitar chord diagram2fr4AR3C#31E5AC#EGBEA9dominant ninthAadd9 guitar chord diagram×1E53B92C#3AEBC#EAadd9added ninthAm7b5 guitar chord diagram××2Ebb53Cb3AEbGCAm7b5half-diminishedAdim7 guitar chord diagram×1Ebb53AR2Cb34Gbbb7AEbACGbAdim7diminished seventhA7sus4 guitar chord diagram×2E53D4AEGDEA7sus4dominant seventh suspended fourthA5 guitar chord diagram××××1E5AEA5power chordAm6 guitar chord diagram×2E53AR1Cb34F#6AEACF#Am6minor sixthAm9 guitar chord diagram×2E54B91Cb33Gb7AEBCGAm9minor ninth

major ninth chords in every key

Cmaj9C#maj9Dmaj9D#maj9Emaj9Fmaj9F#maj9Gmaj9G#maj9Amaj9A#maj9Bmaj9

Questions

What notes are in the Amaj9 chord?

Amaj9 (A major ninth) is made of five notes: A (root), C# (major third), E (perfect fifth), G# (major seventh) and B (ninth).

How do you play Amaj9 on guitar?

The easiest Amaj9 is the "barre at fret 2" shape. Lay your index finger flat across the 4th (D) to the 2nd (B) string at fret 2. This is the barre. Put your ring finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 4 (B). Put your pinky finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 4 (G#).

Is Amaj9 hard to play on guitar?

Amaj9 has no open-string shape, so every version needs a barre or a stretch. The easiest one is rated medium.

What does a major ninth chord sound like?

The major ninth extends a major seventh with a ninth. It is one of the richest-sounding major chords.