Chords › C9
C9 Chord on Guitar
- C9
- C · E · G · B♭ · D
- From fret 1
Open. Mute the high E string with the underside of your fingers.
C9 is a dominant ninth chord: a dominant seventh with the ninth added, the funk and blues chord. C9 has no open shape, so it is usually played as a 4-string shape near the nut.
How to play C9, finger by finger
- Put your index finger on string 4 at the 2nd fret.
- Put your middle finger on string 5 at the 3rd fret.
- Put your ring finger on string 3 at the 3rd fret.
- Put your pinky finger on string 2 at the 3rd fret.
- Strum strings 5 to 2 only.
More ways to play C9
Notes in C9
| Note | Interval | Role |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | root |
| E | 3 | major third |
| G | 5 | fifth |
| B♭ | ♭7 | flat seventh |
| D | 9 | ninth |
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9
Questions about C9
What notes are in C9?
C, E, G, B♭ and D. Those are the 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9 of the chord, counted from C.
Which strings do I strum for C9?
Start on string 5 and strum down to string 1, and leave the strings marked with an X silent.
What chord does C9 lead to?
Most often F. C9 is the five chord of F, so it pulls strongly back to F.
Related chords
Often played with C9
Other 9 chords