C9 Chord

The C9 chord is a dominant ninth chord built on the root note C. Its notes are C, E, G, B♭ and D.

Dominant ninth chords are a dominant seventh with extra shine. The ninth on top softens the bite of the tritone below it, which is why funk, soul and blues rhythm guitar lives on this chord.

Root

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C9 on piano

Inversion:

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To play C9 on piano, take C in the left hand and the remaining notes - E, G, B♭ and D - in the right. Press all keys at the same time and listen for a clear, balanced sound. Practice switching to and from this chord slowly, then with a metronome at a comfortable tempo.

C9 on guitar

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Beginner

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On guitar, C9 is commonly played with the voicing shown above. If the chord contains barred notes, keep your index finger flat across the fretboard and curve the other fingers so they don't mute the open strings. Strum only the strings marked as active in the diagram for the cleanest tone.

Play the chord

C · E · G · B♭ · D

C9 chord notes

Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9Notes: C · E · G · B♭ · D

Degree	Interval	Semitones	Note
1	Root	0	C
3	Major third	4	E
5	Perfect fifth	7	G
♭7	Minor seventh	10	B♭(Bb)
9	Major ninth	14	D

How to use the C9 chord

The C9 chord is built from a root, a major third, a perfect fifth, a minor seventh and a major ninth. Starting from the root C, stack the intervals to get the complete chord: C, E, G, B♭ and D. Learning the formula is the fastest way to transpose the chord to any other key.

Dominant ninth chords take the place of a plain dominant seventh in blues, funk, soul and jazz. As the V9 they resolve just like a V7 does, only with more colour on the way.

Common progressions

The C9 chord works beautifully in these progressions. Click a chord name to jump to its page.

Pop progression

I → V → vi → IV

C G Am F

Once you are comfortable with C9, explore neighbouring chords to unlock new progressions. The chords below share notes, keys or functions with C9 and are a natural next step in your practice.

C♯9

C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · B · D♯

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C9 chord?

The C9 chord contains C, E, G, B♭ and D (C, E, G, Bb and D in plain text).

Is the C9 chord major or minor?

C9 is a dominant ninth chord. Dominant ninth chords are a dominant seventh with extra shine. The ninth on top softens the bite of the tritone below it, which is why funk, soul and blues rhythm guitar lives on this chord.

How do you play C9 on piano?

Place your fingers on C, E, G, B♭ and D and play the notes together. On piano, the root is usually played with the little finger of the left hand and the upper notes with the right hand.

How do you play C9 on guitar?

C9 is typically played using the fingering shown in the interactive diagram above. You can also try an open position if one of the chord tones lines up with an open string.

What chords work well with C9?

C9 pairs naturally with the chords listed in the related chords section. Chords a perfect fifth up or down, relative major or minor chords, and chords sharing two notes are all strong choices.

Keep exploring

Deepen your understanding of the C9 chord with our other music theory tools.

Browse all chords Explore scales Explore progressions Chord Transposer Chord Finder Try the Piano Open Circle of Fifths