C9 Chord on Guitar
Notes C E G B♭ D. Start with C9 (x 3 2 3 3 3): index on string 4 fret 2, middle on string 5 fret 3, pinky across strings 3 to 1 at fret 3.
Chord · C9 dominant 9th
C9, root on string 5 (fret 3) · x 3 2 3 3 3
movable, no open strings
C9 with open E on top · x 3 2 3 3 0
open strings
C9, root on string 4 (fret 10) · x x 10 9 11 10
movable, no open strings
1 C3 E5 G♭7 B♭9 D
- Barre: pinky finger flat across strings 3 to 1 at fret 3
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): middle (2), fret 3
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 2
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 3
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 3
- String 1 (high e): pinky (4), fret 3
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): middle (2), fret 3
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 2
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 3
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 3
- String 1 (high e): open
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 10
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 9
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 11
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), fret 10
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | root |
| 3 | E | major 3rd |
| 5 | G | perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | B♭ | minor 7th |
| 9 | D | major 9th |
Formula 1 3 5 ♭7 9 (dominant 9th).
More on this chord type: Dominant 7th chords · 7th chords explained
Keys that contain C9
| Key | C9 is the |
|---|---|
| F major | V9 |
| D minor | VII9 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing C9: what goes wrong
C9 is C7 plus D
C9 is C, E, G, B♭ and D: a C7 chord with the 9th (D) added. The 9th is the 2nd note of the scale an octave higher. Unlike Cadd9, C9 keeps the B♭.
C9 leads to F
C9 is the V9 chord of F major: all five of its notes belong to the F major scale, and it resolves to F. Funk and blues players use 9th chords where a plain 7th would sound stiffer.
Move the x 3 2 3 3 3 shape
There is no open string in x 3 2 3 3 3, so the shape slides along the neck: its root is on string 5. C9 with open E on top (x 3 2 3 3 0) is a lighter, easier choice near the nut.
Related chords
Learn and practise C9
- Metronomepractise the change to C9 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in C9?
C, E, G, B♭, D: the 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9 of the C9 dominant 9th chord.
What is the difference between C7 and C9?
C9 adds D to C7: C, E, G, B♭, D. Both are dominant chords that want to resolve to F, and the 9th makes C9 smoother and richer.