{"id":23509,"date":"2025-12-11T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hearandplay.com\/main\/?p=22456"},"modified":"2026-05-01T08:16:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T16:16:08","slug":"chord-upgrade-how-to-instantly-upgrade-triads-and-seventh-chords-to-ninth-chords","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hearplaymain.wpenginepowered.com\/chord-upgrade-how-to-instantly-upgrade-triads-and-seventh-chords-to-ninth-chords\/","title":{"rendered":"CHORD UPGRADE: How To INSTANTLY Upgrade Triads And Seventh Chords To Ninth Chords"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever wondered how top players make even simple progressions sound rich, modern, and inspiring, here\u2019s the secret: <\/span>they use ninth chords<\/strong>. And the best part? You can start using them right away\u2014no advanced theory required.<\/span><\/p>\n

Using what I’m about to share in this lesson, you can instantly upgrade basic triads and seventh chords into ninth chords in two shakes of a dog’s tail.<\/em><\/p>\n

All I’m asking for is your undivided attention and that in the next four minutes or so, you discover the secret to an instant chord upgrade.<\/p>\n

Let’s Define Ninth Chords<\/em><\/h2>\n

There are so many ways to define a ninth chord. In this lesson, we’ll be defining a ninth chord as follows:<\/p>\n

A ninth chord is any chord, be it a triad or a seventh chord, that contains a ninth<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Think of a ninth chord as an <\/span>enhanced<\/em> version of the chords you already know (triads and seventh chords). <\/span><\/p>\n

Take your basic triad or seventh chord, add the ninth of the scale<\/strong>, and you\u2019ve created a fuller, more expressive sound.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is A Ninth?<\/em><\/h3>\n

When you take a closer look at these two chords:<\/p>\n

C major triad:
\n
\nC major (add ninth):
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

…it becomes really clear what the ninth is.<\/p>\n

C E G = C major triad<\/p>\n

C E G + D = C major (add ninth)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Even if you can’t hear the ninth (and maybe you can), I’m sure you can see that the ninth of the C major triad is “D”:<\/p>\n

If C major triad + D = C major (add ninth), then D is the ninth of C<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the case of these two chords:<\/p>\n

C major seventh:
\n
\nC major ninth:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

…we can also see that the difference between the C major seventh and the C major ninth chord is “D”:<\/p>\n

C major seventh + D = C major ninth<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That added note (D) is the ninth, and it makes a game-changing difference that adds openness, <\/span>warmth: elevating chords from traditional to modern and giving them a more professional outlook.<\/p>\n

You can’t find any gospel musician or contemporary keyboardist who is into smooth jazz, Neo-soul, R&B, etc., who doesn’t rely on ninths.<\/p>\n

Why Is It Called A Ninth?<\/em><\/h3>\n

There are usually seven unique numbers in the scale degree numbering system (aka – “number system).<\/p>\n

In the C major scale (C D E F G A B C):
\n<\/p>\n

C is 1 | D is 2 | E is 3 | F is 4 | G is 5 | A is 6 | B is 7<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, when you look at the extended number system, you have the following numbers:
\n
\nC as the 8th tone (aka – “the octave”):
\n
\nD as the 9th tone:
\n
\n…and it goes all the way up to the 15th tone (the second octave):<\/p>\n

C is 1 | D is 2 | E is 3 | F is 4 | G is 5 | A is 6 | B is 7 | C is 8 | D is 9 | E is 10 | F is 11 | G is 12 | A is 13 | B is 14 | C is 15<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The extended number system is basically two octaves (side by side), numbered from the first to the fifteenth.<\/p>\n

A lot of people know about the relationship between the first and eighth:
\n<\/p>\n

C is 1<\/p>\n

C is 8<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

…known as the octave.<\/p>\n

Beyond the 8th (aka – “octave”), that’s a duplicate of the 1st:
\n<\/p>\n

C is 1st and C is 8th<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

…there’s also the 9th that’s a duplicate of the 2nd tone:
\n<\/p>\n

D is 2nd and D is 9th<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With that said, the ninth is simply the second tone of the major scale. It’s called the ninth because of its position in the extended number system.<\/p>\n

We’ll talk more about this in class<\/a>!<\/p>\n

How To INSTANTLY Upgrade Triads And Seventh Chords<\/h2>\n

With the knowledge of what the ninth is, you can now upgrade triads and seventh chords by introducing the ninth, and this is done in two known ways: addition<\/em> and extension.<\/em><\/p>\n

The introduction of the ninth to a triad is described as addition<\/em><\/strong> while the introduction of the ninth to a seventh chord is described as extension<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look at the two known ways to form ninth chords: by addition and by extension.<\/p>\n

[For Triads]: Ninth Chords By Addition<\/h3>\n

Super simple: take your major triad and add the second tone of the corresponding major scale.<\/p>\n

If you’re given the Eb major triad:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

…you can transform its sound by adding the second tone of the Eb major scale:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

…which is F:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

…and you’ll have an Eb major [add9] chord:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What’s the second tone of the B major scale:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Well, it’s C#:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Adding C# to the B major chord:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

…produces the B major [add9] chord:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The introduction of the ninth to triads is called addition and produces added tone chords.<\/p>\n

Check out a few add9 chords:<\/p>\n

\n

D major [add9]:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ab major [add9]:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Gb major [add9]:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Bb major [add9]:<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[For Seventh Chords]: Ninth Chords By Extension<\/h3>\n

If you already play seventh chords, here\u2019s the next level:<\/p>\n

C major seventh to C major ninth:<\/p>\n