Tips & Techniques
How to play Fadd9
Lesson #177
Video Overview
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How to play Fadd9
The Fadd9 chord is one thatβs relatively common, especially when playing in the key of C. The great thing about Fadd9 is that itβs so much easier to play than a regular F-major barre chord - and often can be used to substitute for that chord, to your benefit. Hereβs how to play it:
E βββ3βββ <-- left pinky finger
B βββ1βββ <-- left index finger
G βββ2βββ <-- left middle finger
D βββ3βββ <-- left ring finger
A βββββββ
E βββββββ
Fadd9
Now that you know how to play it, hereβs a handful of exercises you can practice to get up to speed with Fadd9 in a very practical sense.
Exercise 1: C to Fadd9
The first thing Iβd recommend playing, as soon as you have the Fadd9 shape memorized - is practicing a transition between C and Fadd9. The great thing about these two chords is that your left index and left pinky stay in the same position for each chord. This means, all you need to worry about is moving your left middle and ring fingers (and even they are staying perfectly diagonal from each other for both chords).
E βββ3βββ <-- left pinky finger E βββ3βββ <-- left pinky finger
B βββ1βββ <-- left index finger B βββ1βββ <-- left index finger
G βββ0βββ G βββ2βββ <-- left middle finger
D βββ2βββ <-- left middle finger D βββ3βββ <-- left ring finger
A βββ3βββ <-- left ring finger A βββββββ
E βββββββ E βββββββ
C Fadd9
Exercise 2: C, Fadd9, and G
Once you have the C transition under control, practice adding the G chord. Note how for all 3 of these chords, your left pinky remains in the same exact position (thinnest string, 3rd fret). Similarly, your left ring finger is playing the bass note of all three chords. While there are many possible ways to play a G chord, I recommend using the fingers shown below (it makes the transitions between C, Fadd9, and G much easier).
E βββ3ββββββ3ββββ βββ3βββ <-- left pinky
B βββ1ββββββ1ββββ βββ0βββ
G βββ0ββββββ2ββββ βββ0βββ
D βββ2ββββββ3ββββ βββ0βββ
A βββ3βββββββββββ βββ2βββ <-- left middle finger
E βββββββββββββββ βββ3βββ <-- left ring finger
C Fadd9 G
Exercise 3: C, Fadd9, and Gadd9
Going even further, you could slide the Fadd9 shape up 2 frets to play a Gadd9 in place of a regular G. This makes for a very nice exercise of playing the same chord shape twice in a row, but a few frets removed from the original position (a good skill to practice).
E βββ3ββββββ3ββββββ5βββ Notice how the Fadd9 and Gadd9 use the same
B βββ1ββββββ1ββββββ3βββ relative shape... just slide your left
G βββ0ββββββ2ββββββ4βββ hand 2 frets up the neck.
D βββ2ββββββ3ββββββ5βββ
A βββ3βββββββββββββββββ
E βββββββββββββββββββββ
C Fadd9 Gadd9
Exercise 4: Alternating bass notes
Another avenue to explore is that of alternating bass notes. Use your left ring finger to alternate between the 4th and 5th string (of the Fadd9), with strums of the thinnest 3-4 strings between each bass note. This exact same technique can be used for the C chord as well, if you want to bring that into your practice session (go between the 5th and 6th string for the bass note).
E βββ3βββ βββββ3ββββββ3βββ E ||βββ3βββ βββββ3ββββββ3βββ
B βββ1βββ βββββ1ββββββ1βββ B ||βββ1βββ βββββ1ββββββ1βββ
G βββ0βββ βββββ0ββββββ0βββ G ||βββ2βββ βββββ2ββββββ2βββ
D βββ2βββ βββββ2ββββββ2βββ D ||βββ3βββ ββ3βββββββββββββ
A βββ3βββ ββ3βββββββββββββ A ||βββββββ βββββββββ3ββββββ
E βββββββ βββββββββ3ββββββ E ||βββββββ ββββββββββββββββ
C Fadd9
Exercise 5: βCatch the Windβ intro riff
The song βCatch the Windβ by Donovan has a beautiful intro (capo 3rd fret to play along with Donovan) that uses the Fadd9 chord. Hereβs the riff for that intro section. Notice the Fadd9.
E ββββ3β3ββββββ3β3ββββββ3ββββββββ3ββββββββ3β3ββββββ3ββββββββ3β3βββββββ3β3ββ
B ββββ1β1ββββββ1β1ββββββ1ββββββββ0ββββββββ1β1ββββββ1ββββββββ1β1βββββββ1β1ββ
G ββββ0β0ββββ0β0β0ββββββ2ββββββββ0ββββββββ0β0ββββββ2ββββββββ0β0βββββββ0β0ββ
D ββββ2β2ββββββ2β2ββββ3β3β2ββββ0β0ββββββββ2β2ββββ3β3β2ββββββ2β2βββ0h2β2β2ββ
A ββ3ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ2ββββ3βββββββββββββββββ3ββββββββββββββββ
E βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
C Fadd9 G C Fadd9 C
Exercise 6: Fadd9 hammer-ons
Finally, the Fadd9 chord (similar to the C) makes for great hammer-on practice with your middle finger. This is a very efficient way to add embellishment and flourish to your playing.
E βββ3βββ βββββ3β3βββββββββ3β3ββ E ||βββ3βββ βββββ3β3ββββββββ3β3ββ
B βββ1βββ βββββ1β1βββββββββ1β1ββ B ||βββ1βββ βββββ1β1ββββββββ1β1ββ
G βββ0βββ βββββ0β0βββββββββ0β0ββ G ||βββ2βββ βββββ2β2βββ0h2ββ2β2ββ
D βββ2βββ βββββ2β2ββββ0h2ββ2β2ββ D ||βββ3βββ ββ3ββ3β3ββββββββ3β3ββ
A βββ3βββ ββ3ββ3β3βββββββββ3β3ββ A ||βββββββ βββββββββββββββββββββ
E βββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββ E ||βββββββ βββββββββββββββββββββ
C Fadd9
I hope all this was helpful
Please let me know what other chords youβd like to see lessons made for! In the meantime, best of luck with your playing.
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