9ths and "add9"ths

The E9 is correct. As is the Eadd9.

Yes, your formulas are correct. Here's a great reference table:

Howard's chord theory reference table

An easier fingering for the add9 would put the F# on the 1st string:

E A D G B E
0 2 2 1 0 2

That's an easier fingering but the first sounds infinitely better, in my opinion. The F# and the G# in the same octave sound great. Also, if you leave your pinky in place on the 4th fret of the D string and scoot your first and second fingers up a half step toward your pinky, you get a beautiful altered 4minor chord. That would be 034200. You could call it an Aminor 6 9 over E if you want. Or Cma7b5 over E...Anyway,it's pretty.

http://www.guitarforsongwriters.com

NoteBoat - the fingering you suggested was one I used when I was tabbing "Born on the Bayou" which got lost in the Great GN Meltdown '04 - as did my post asking whether it was an Esus2 chord, Promedics and someone else put me right there - was just a little confused.

Mr. Guest, you're right, that is a nice chord, if a little confusingly named - any (CLEAN!!!) suggestions as to where I can use it...........?

The table I used was one Helgi posted a while back on a post called (I think) a little advanced chord theory.

9th's imply 7th note and 9th note are added

add9 means the chord just the 9th, no 7th.

I just read about the add9/add2 debate:

"Add2 and add9 chords: the add9 and add2 chords are usually considered to be alternative names for the same chord. After all, they are made up of exactly the same notes. However, some people argue that add2 implies a different voicing than add9. For example, it can be argued that the added note in an add2 chord should appear within the first octave above the root (i.e a true 2nd above the root), whereas the added note in an add9 chord should be more than an octave above the root. Others argue that add2 implies a chord voicing in which the 2nd and 3rd are next to each other, whereas add9 implies the added note is not adjacent to the 3rd. These are fairly subtle distinctions though - the important thing is that both chords are made up of the same notes."

I've had this question burning me up lately but I've not asked it. I'm thinking this is a C add 9:

C add 9 (c-e-g-d)

1e: --3—(g)--pinky
2B: --3—(d)--ring
3G: --0—(g)--
4D: --2—(e)--index
5A: --3—(c)--middle
6E: --X----

while this should more properly be called a C add 2:

C add 2 (c-e-g-d)

1e: --0—(e)--
2B: --1—(c)--ring
3G: --0—(g)--
4D: --0—(d)--
5A: --3—(c)--middle
6E: --X----

Even though they contain the same notes. Any takers if this is correct?

Chord symbols, such as add9 (or C6/9, Bm7b5, etc) indicate which notes are to be used, but they don't indicate where to use them. There's absolutely no difference between a Cadd2 and a Cadd9 chord.

If you take the other view, that a low D would be add2, and a higher D would be add9, we can get into all sorts of mayhem... for example, your first chord might be Cadd9/12 (to indicate a G as the top note), and the second a C/D/C to indicate a C triad with a D bass and a C bass below that.

In my opinion, voicings should be left to performers rather than chord charts :)

Hmmm, sounds like you are saying simple is better. Name the chord sparsely and let the guy playing put his interpretation of the chord to work?