Standard Tuning - Ninths and Seconds

This article introduces a particular note, the second tone in the scale. In particular, it is all about the way this note fits into chords and the interesting range of sounds it can produce. There is a lot of confusion about how to name these chords, and also why it even matters. I think it's important to name chords that catch your attention, so that you can figure out why it sounds good and go looking for other variations in other keys.

When does 9 = 2 ?

The first thing to sort out is why this note is sometimes called a 9th and sometimes a 2nd. It's the same note. Let's consider the key of C to see why. The C major scale goes like this:

Scale Tone 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
C Scale Note C D E F G A B C D

 

 

As you can see, the 2nd and 9th are both D. This is a bit misleading and suggests that a 9th has to be in the higher octave. Actually, it says nothing about where the note goes, it an be any kind of D in any octave.  To see why there are two different names, consider these three chords:

Chord Name 1st 2nd 3rd 5th
C Major C   E G
C Add 9th C D E G
C Suspended 2nd C D   G

 

 

 

The C Major chord has a 1st, 3rd and 5th as we all know hopefully. The next chord is exactly the same with an extra note added, the D. The business end of the chord is the 1st , 3rd and 5th and so this added D is just an "extra bit". To keep it out of the way of the really important stuff, it gets notated in the next octave. By saying 9th, it means that the chord is already defined, and here's another note. That also explains using the word "Add". C Add 9th.

The next chord is a special case because it has no 3rd. Without a 3rd, the chord loses its major/minor definition and the role of the D is completely different. Here, it replaces the 3rd and so it makes more sense to say 2nd. This helps indicate that it's "nearly a third" if you like. The word suspended tells us that the chord has lost its definition because the 3rd is gone. A weaker note has replaced it and left it sounding unresolved and "suspended". For exactly this reason, this is a useful chord as it helps us steer away from obvious sounds and instead head towards ambiguity and airiness.

Here are a bunch of suspended 2 chords, or Sus2 as they are often notated. Figure out which note is the 2nd in each chord and hear that the chord is neither major or minor. A few chords are shown using a barre and these are handy for moving about the neck. These chords are particularly good for picking through, with fiddly bits added !

Standard Tuning - Suspended 2nd Chords


Next up is a bunch of Add 9th chords. Hear that these chords have a 3rd and the extra note added in. Again, these are great for picking through, the 4 notes giving more melodic range to work with.


Standard Tuning - Added 9th Major Chords


Of course it is impossible to have a "minor suspended" chord. If it is a minor chord there must be a flattened 3rd, but it's a 3rd nonetheless. And of course, suspended means the third has been replaced. However, there's no reason we can't have a minor, added 9th chord. This is just the 1st, flattened 3rd, 5th and 2nd (9th). Here are some examples, check out each note and see why it works.

Standard Tuning - Added 9th Minor Chords


There are loads more of these chords, so go hunting. The minor added 9th chords are especially dark and miserable, an apt reflection of the muscular pain required to play them. The jarring clash between the 2nd and the flat 3rd is the reason for this. They are a semi-tone (one fret) apart which makes for interesting ideas. Strumming rarely works though.


What is a C9 or Cmin9 chord then ?

In this case the word "Add" is missing, and so the 9th is not just a single addition to the chord. Instead, it is the last in the chain all the way up from the 1st.

Chord Name 1st 2nd 3rd 5th 7th 9th
C9 C   E G A# D
Cmin 9 C   Eb G Bb D

 

These chords have 5 notes in them and are heading into jazz territory. This is my cue to finish the article. As a final thought, the exact same principle here applies to 4ths and 11ths. A suspended 4th chord has a 1st, 4th and 5th. An "Add 11th" chord has a 1st, 3rd, 5th and 11th (4th).