meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Guitar Music Theory

Ep121 How to name and use the Dadd4add9 chord

Guitar Music Theory

Desi Serna

Musictheoryforguitar, Guitar, Guitarscales, Performing Arts, Guitarmusictheory, Music, Guitarlessons, Arts, Guitarchords, Guitartheory

4.6931 Ratings

🗓️ 29 April 2022

⏱️ 60 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In my latest podcast episode, I discuss the Dadd4add9 chord. This is a complex-sounding chord that is actually very easy to play. Use it to spruce up your playing and make things sound more interesting. It also goes by the name Dadd2add4 and even D11. I explain where its names come from and give you examples of how it's used in familiar songs.

The following songs are good examples that use the shape in its entirety as Dadd4add9.

"Man on the Moon" REM
"Closer to Fine" Indigo Girls
"Jumper" Third Eye Blind
"Sugar Mountain" Neil Young (tune down whole step)
"Engine Driver" The Decemberists

These songs omit the E note creating the simpler Dadd4 chord.

"Why Georgia" John Mayer
"Crossroads" John Mayer
"Hysteria" Def Leppard
"2000 Miles" The Pretenders
"Hosanna" Paul Baloche
"Songs She Sang in the Shower" Jason Isbell
"#41" Dave Matthews Band
"Have a Cigar" Pink Floyd
"Bigmouth Strikes Again" The Smiths

🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do in order to play guitar better? Visit https://GuitarMusicTheory.com - answer the questions about your playing and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level.

GEAR
PRS SE Angelus acoustic/electric guitar
Fishman Aura Spectrum DI Preamp

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

In episode 121 of the guitar music theory podcast I talk about naming and using the D add 2 ad 9 chord

0:09.4

What? Greetings guitar engineers. Welcome to the guitar music theory podcast. I am your host

0:36.3

Desi Cerna and today we're going to talk about a special type of decor that's a

0:42.3

unique voicing to the guitar. It involves playing an

0:46.4

open C chord fingering and then moving your fingers up two frets but keeping the

0:50.9

open strings the same.

0:53.0

This chord has a really interesting sound to it.

0:56.0

There's added color and depth, there's some dissonance and some tension,

1:00.0

but it's a real beautiful sounding chord,

1:02.0

and it actually works well in popular music.

1:05.0

In fact, you hear it in many familiar songs.

1:09.0

I'm going to give you some examples and then I'm going to talk about how you would name

1:13.2

this chord because most people really don't even know how to start when they begin to name

1:17.9

it and you'll actually see it named different things and I'll explain why that is.

1:23.7

So if you're not familiar with how chords get named and why we have little numbers next to

1:28.6

chord names sometimes, this will kind of be a lesson in that as well. Perhaps this is just the sort of thing you need to hear right now,

1:36.0

or maybe your guitar playing needs attention in other areas.

1:39.0

If you need help determining what you should specifically be doing right now in order to improve your

1:44.6

guitar playing. Go to my website guitar music theory.com answer the question I ask you about your

1:50.8

playing and I'll send you free custom video instruction

1:53.9

calibrated to your current level. I can put you on a plan to fill gaps in your

1:58.5

knowledge and move forward with your playing so you become a better guitarist and reach your music goals.

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in -1064 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Desi Serna, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Desi Serna and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.