What is an Add2 Chord on the Piano?

Add2 chords are part of the Add chords group such as Add9, Add4, Add6 and  Add11.  Add chords add one extra tone to a chord which is often a Major or minor triad.  It’s not in a “tertian” sequence meaning that it’s not in a sequence of 3rds.

An add2 chord is a Major or minor triad in which the second tone is included in the chord for the purpose of enhancing what would otherwise be a simple sounding harmony.  It doesn’t include a seventh tone as that would redefine it as an extended chord and not be classified as an add2.    

How to Create Add2 Chords

The add2 chord contains four notes in which three of them are those of a Major or minor triad.  Add2 chords are more often Major rather than minor.  In order to create an Add2 chord, take a Major or minor triad and add the second tone of a Major key of music.

The Key of C Major

Cadd2

Cm add2

Add2 Chord Intervals

Chords are built upon intervals.  Intervals are the distance between notes.  The interval of the add2 chord is a Major 2nd.  The 2nd tone is separated from the root by a whole step or one key up.

C add2 Intervals

Cm add2 Intervals

The Fastest Way to Learn Add2 Chords

If you’re familiar with the 12 Major chords, it will be very easy to learn add2 chords in any key.  

You can cycle from Major to Add2 to minor Add2. 

This article illustrates all 12 Major chords in visual order.  If you’re not familiar with Major chords, learn them first before moving on to the add2 chords of this article.  I would also suggest to be familiar with minor chords.   This article explains minor chords. 

C, F & G Major to Add2 & Add2 minor

C Major

C Add2

C minor Add2

F Major

F Add2

F minor Add2

G Major

G Add2

G minor Add2

D, E & A Major to Add2 & Add2 minor

D Major

D Add2

D minor Add2

E Major

E Add2

E minor Add2

A Major 

A Add2

A minor Add2

Db, Eb & Ab Major to Add2 & Add2 minor

Db Major

Db Add2

Db minor Add2

Eb Major

Eb Add2

Eb minor Add2

Ab Major

Ab Add2

Ab minor Add2

Gb, Bb & B Major to Add2 & Add2 minor

G flat Major

G flat  Add2

G flat minor Add2

B flat Major

B flat Add2

B flat minor Add2

B Major

B Add2

B minor Add2

Add2 Chord Inversions 

Inversions are the rearrangement of the notes within the chord from the bottom up.  Add2 chords can be played in Root position, first inversion, second inversion, or third inversion.  

In Root position, the root of the add2 chord is the bottom.

C Add2 root position

In first inversion, the root is on the top.

C Add2 1st inversion

In second inversion, the root is the second note from the top.

C Add2 2nd inversion

In third inversion, the root is the second note up from the bottom.

C Add2 3rd inversion

Minor Add2 Inversions

In Root position, the root of the add2 chord is the bottom.

C minor Add2 root position

In first inversion, the root is on the top.

C minor Add2 1st inversion

In second inversion, the root is the second note from the top.

C minor Add2 2nd inversion

In third inversion, the root is the second note up from the bottom.

C minor Add2 3rd inversion

Add2 Chord Inversions

Add2 Chord	Root Position	1st Inversion	2nd Inversion	3rd Inversion
C Add2	C-D-E-G	D-E-G-C	E-G-C-D	G-C-D-E
F Add2	F-G-A-C	G-A-C-F	A-C-F-G	C-F-G-A
G Add2	G-A-B-D	A-B-D-G	B-D-G-A	D-G-A-B
D Add2	D-E-F#-A	E-F#-A-D	F#-A-D-E	A-D-E-F#
E Add2	E-F#-G#-B	F#-G#-B-E	G#-B-E-F#	B-E-F#-G#
A Add2	A-B-C#-E	B-C#-E-A	C#-E-A-B	E-A-B-C#
D flat Add2	Db-Eb-F-Ab	Eb-F-Ab-Db	F-Ab-Db-Eb	Ab-Db-Eb-F
E flat Add2	Eb-F-G-Bb	F-G-Bb-Eb	G-Bb-Eb-F	Bb-Eb-F-G
A flat Add2	Ab-Bb-C-Eb	Bb-C-Eb-Ab	C-Eb-Ab-Bb	Eb-Ab-Bb-C
G flat Add2	Gb-Ab-Bb-Db	Ab-Bb-Db-Gb	Bb-Db-Gb-Ab	Db-Gb-Ab-Bb
B flat Add2	Bb-C-D-F	C-D-F-Bb	D-F-Bb-C	F-Bb-C-D
B Add2	B-C#-D#-F#	C#-D#-F#-B	D#-F#-B-C#	F#-B-C#-D#

Minor Add2 Chord Inversions

Minor Add2 Chord	Root Position	1st Inversion	2nd Inversion	3rd Inversion
C minor Add2	C-D-Eb-G	D-Eb-G-C	Eb-G-C-D	G-C-D-Eb
F minor Add2	F-G-Ab-C	G-Ab-C-F	Ab-C-F-G	C-F-G-Ab
G minor Add2	G-A-Bb-D	A-Bb-D-G	Bb-D-G-A	D-G-A-Bb
D minor Add2	D-E-F-A	E-F-A-D	F-A-D-E	A-D-E-F
E minor Add2	E-F#-G-B	F#-G-B-E	G-B-E-F#	B-E-F#-G
A minor Add2	A-B-C-E	B-C-E-A	C-E-A-B	E-A-B-C
D flat minor Add2	Db-Eb-Fb-Ab	Eb-Fb-Ab-Db	Fb-Ab-Db-Eb	Ab-Db-Eb-Fb
E flat minor Add2	Eb-F-Gb-Bb	F-Gb-Bb-Eb	Gb-Bb-Eb-F	Bb-Eb-F-Gb
A flat minor Add2	Ab-Bb-Cb-Eb	Bb-Cb-Eb-Ab	Cb-Eb-Ab-Bb	Eb-Ab-Bb-Cb
G flat minor Add2	Gb-Ab-Bbb-Db	Ab-Bbb-Db-Gb	Bbb-Db-Gb-Ab	Db-Gb-Ab-Bbb
B flat minor Add2	Bb-C-Db-F	C-Db-F-Bb	Db-F-Bb-C	F-Bb-C-Db
B minor Add2	B-C#-D-F#	C#-D-F#-B	D-F#-B-C#	F#-B-C#-D

How to develop proficiency in learning and playing Add2 Chords

• Learn all 12 Major chords in visual order
• Convert all Major chords into Add2 and MinorAdd2 chords in visual order
• Take each Add2 chord and play it in Root position, 1st inversion and 2nd inversion
• Apply Add2 chords to your favorite music as well as your own songs

Final Thoughts

The add2 chord may only have one note added to a Major or minor triad, but you can hear how much it adds to the harmony.  Try to substitute them anywhere you would normally play a plain triad.

Until Next time, Go Play!