D add 9 chord

What each note does

• D is the root. It names the chord and is the note your ear hears as home.
• F♯ is the major third. It makes the chord sound bright. Lower it a half step to F and the chord turns minor.
• A is the fifth. It adds weight without changing the character, so it is the first note to drop when a voicing gets crowded.
• E is the ninth, the second an octave up. It opens the chord and adds color without changing its function.