Emaj9 Major 9th Chord

Major 7th with added 9th. Lush, dreamy sound used in jazz and ambient music.

Emaj9 Chord — Quick Answer & Harmonic Definition

The Emaj9 (Major 9th) chord consists of the notes E, G#, B, D#, F#. It is constructed from the root note E using the major 9th interval formula (0–4–7–11–14 semitones).

Formula: 0 – 4 – 7 – 11 – 14
Notes
E – G# – B – D# – F#
Intervals (semitones)
0 – 4 – 7 – 11 – 14
Type
Extended

Emaj9 on Piano

Press highlighted keys simultaneously to play the Emaj9 chord.

R
E (Root (R))
2
G# (Major 3rd)
3
B (Perfect 5th)
4
D# (Major 7th)
5
F# (Major 9th)

Emaj9 on Guitar

The Emaj9 chord uses notes E, G#, B, D#, F#. Build a voicing by finding these notes on any strings — root on the 6th string is a common starting point for barre chord shapes.

Interval Analysis

Degree Interval Name Semitones Note in E
Root Root (R) 0 E
3rd Major 3rd 4 G#
5th Perfect 5th 7 B
7th Major 7th 11 D#
9th Major 9th 14 F#

About the E Major 9th Chord

The Emaj9 chord (E Major 9th) consists of 5 notes: E, G#, B, D#, F#. Major 7th with added 9th. Lush, dreamy sound used in jazz and ambient music.

To build any major 9th chord, apply intervals of 0, 4, 7, 11, 14 semitones above the root. Starting from E: the notes land on E, G#, B, D#, F#.

Playing Emaj9 on Piano

Press E, G#, B, D#, F# simultaneously. In root position, E is lowest. First inversion places G# in the bass for a lighter sound; second inversion uses B as the bass note.

Common Chord Progressions Using Emaj9

  • I–IV–V: Emaj9 – Amaj9 – Bmaj9 (blues and rock)
  • I–V–vi–IV: Emaj9 – B – C#m – A (pop staple)
  • I–vi–IV–V: Emaj9 – C#m – A – B (50s progression)

The Emaj9 Chord in Context

The Emaj9 (Major 9th) chord features a distinctive major 7th with added 9th. lush, dreamy sound used in jazz and ambient music. built from the intervals 0–4–7–11–14. It provides rich harmonic color and tension across pop, jazz, classical, and contemporary compositions.

Other E Chords

E
Major
Em
Minor
E7
Dominant 7th
Emaj7
Major 7th
Em7
Minor 7th
Edim
Diminished

Major 9th Chord in All 12 Keys

Cmaj9 C#maj9 Dmaj9 D#maj9 Emaj9 Fmaj9 F#maj9 Gmaj9 G#maj9 Amaj9 A#maj9 Bmaj9
Virtual Piano
Play Emaj9 on piano
Virtual Guitar
See on the fretboard
E Scale
Notes that fit Emaj9
Songs
Find songs using Emaj9

Knowledge Base & FAQs

Emaj9 Chord — Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our browser-based Web Audio engine, instruments, and music theory workspace.

What notes are in the Emaj9 chord?

The E Major 9th chord contains: E, G#, B, D#, F#.

These notes are derived by applying the major 9th interval formula (0–4–7–11–14 semitones) to the root note E.

What is the Emaj9 chord used for?

Major 7th with added 9th.

Lush, dreamy sound used in jazz and ambient music. The Emaj9 chord is used across pop, rock, jazz, and classical music. As the I chord in the key of E major, it functions as the most stable resting point in progressions.

How do you play Emaj9 on piano?

On piano, play E, G#, B, D#, F# simultaneously.

In root position, E is the lowest note. Inversions move the bass note up — first inversion has G# lowest, second inversion has B lowest.

How many notes are in a major 9th chord?

A major 9th chord has 5 notes: E, G#, B, D#, F# (in E).

It is an extended chord with 5 or more notes.

What is the difference between E major and E minor?

The E major chord (E–G#–B) uses a major third (4 semitones), giving it a bright, happy sound.

The E minor chord (E–G–B) uses a minor third (3 semitones), giving it a darker, emotional sound.

What key does Emaj9 belong to?

Emaj9 naturally serves as the I chord in the key of E major.

It also appears as IV in the key of B major, and as V in the key of A major.

Can I play Emaj9 on ukulele?

Yes.

The ukulele uses GCEA tuning with 4 strings. The Emaj9 chord notes (E, G#, B, D#, F#) can be fretted on a ukulele, though the shapes differ from guitar due to the 4-string layout and shorter scale.

What chords go well with Emaj9?

In the key of E major, Emaj9 pairs naturally with A major (IV), B major (V), and C#m (vi).

The classic I–IV–V (Emaj9–A–B) is the foundation of blues, country, and rock.

What is a chord inversion of Emaj9?

An inversion places a non-root note in the bass.

Emaj9 root position: E in bass. First inversion: G# in bass. Second inversion: B in bass. Inversions create smoother bass line movement without changing the harmony.

How do I memorize the notes in a major 9th chord?

Remember the formula: 0–4–7–11–14 semitones from root.

For Emaj9: start on E, add 4 semitones, then 7 semitones, then 11 semitones, then 14 semitones. Practicing this across all 12 roots builds instant recognition of any major 9th chord.