Cadd9 Chord

The Cadd9 chord is a added ninth chord built on the root note C. Its notes are C, E, G and D.

Added ninth chords are open and shimmering. Unlike a ninth chord they leave the seventh out, so the added second degree colours the triad without any of the tension a dominant brings, a favourite of pop and worship guitarists.

Root

Quality

Cadd9 on piano

Inversion:

Show:

To play Cadd9 on piano, place your right-hand thumb on C, then index, middle and little finger on E, G and D. 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.

Cadd9 on guitar

Show:

BeginnerC shape

Open

On guitar, Cadd9 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

Cadd9

C · E · G · D

Cadd9 chord notes

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

Degree	Interval	Semitones	Note
1	Root	0	C
3	Major third	4	E
5	Perfect fifth	7	G
9	Major ninth	14	D

How to use the Cadd9 chord

The Cadd9 chord is built from a root, a major third, a perfect fifth and a major ninth. Starting from the root C, stack the intervals to get the complete chord: C, E, G and D. Learning the formula is the fastest way to transpose the chord to any other key.

Added ninth chords replace plain major chords when a part needs air, especially in fingerpicked guitar and piano pads. They are everywhere in pop ballads, worship music and indie rock.

Common progressions

The Cadd9 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 Cadd9, explore neighbouring chords to unlock new progressions. The chords below share notes, keys or functions with Cadd9 and are a natural next step in your practice.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Cadd9 chord?

The Cadd9 chord contains C, E, G and D.

Is the Cadd9 chord major or minor?

Cadd9 is a added ninth chord. Added ninth chords are open and shimmering. Unlike a ninth chord they leave the seventh out, so the added second degree colours the triad without any of the tension a dominant brings, a favourite of pop and worship guitarists.

How do you play Cadd9 on piano?

Place your fingers on C, E, G 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 Cadd9 on guitar?

Cadd9 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 Cadd9?

Cadd9 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 Cadd9 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