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C major 9th chord on guitar (Cmaj9)
Also called or written Cmaj9 or C
C major 9th contains C, E, G, B, and D. The open voicing mixes fretted and open strings, demanding precise muting of the low E.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
- Root positionC–E–G–B–DCmaj9×-3-0-0-0-0
- First inversionE–G–B–D–CCmaj9/E0-2-0-0-1-0
- Second inversionG–B–D–C–ECmaj9/G3-2-0-0-1-0
- Third inversionB–D–C–E–GCmaj9/B×-2-0-0-1-0
- Fourth inversionD–C–E–G–BCmaj9/D×-5-5-5-5-7
How do you play a C major 9th chord on guitar?
C major 9th is played in open position as × 3 0 0 0 0: index finger on the A string at fret 3. The D, G, B and high e strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (2) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (7) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (3) |
AdvancedMuting the low E while fretting the A string cleanly requires careful thumb placement and hand angle.
7th fret
C major 9th is played at the 7th fret as 8 7 9 7 8 7: barre your index finger across fret 7, middle finger on the low E string at fret 8, pinky finger on the D string at fret 9 and ring finger on the B string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (1) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 1 (barre) | E (3) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 4 | B (7) |
| 3 (G) | 7 | 1 (barre) | D (2) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 3 | G (5) |
| 1 (e) | 7 | 1 (barre) | B (7) |
Cmaj9/E inversion · 0-2-0-0-1-0
C major 9th is played in open position as 0 2 0 0 1 0: middle finger on the A string at fret 2 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The low E, D, G and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (3) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (7) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (2) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (3) |
Cmaj9/E inversion · 0-2-0-0-1-3
C major 9th is played in open position as 0 2 0 0 1 3: middle finger on the A string at fret 2, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The low E, D and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (3) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (7) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (2) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (5) |
Cmaj9/E inversion · 0-3-0-0-0-0
C major 9th is played in open position as 0 3 0 0 0 0: index finger on the A string at fret 3. The low E, D, G, B and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (3) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (2) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (7) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (3) |
Why it sounds like that
C major 9th is built from the 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 of the C major scale. The major 7th B and the 9th D add a dreamy, sophisticated sheen. Compare it to C major 7th, which omits the 9th.
What goes wrong with C major 9th?
- Letting the low E ring, which muddies the voicing.
- Pressing too hard on the A string, causing it to buzz.
- Accidentally touching the open D string with the fretting hand.
When to use it
C major 9th serves as the I chord in C major, fitting progressions like C–F–G–C (I–IV–V–I). Its airy quality suits folk, pop ballads, and smooth jazz. It also works over C major and C major 7th.
Changing to and from C major 9th
- Move to <a href="/guitar/f-major-chord">F major</a> by shifting the index finger to the 6th string, 1st fret, and adding the middle finger on the 2nd string, 1st fret.
Which voicing to use
The open voicing keeps C in the bass for a warm, root-position sound. The Cmaj9/E inversions put the third in the bass, creating a brighter, more forward feel. The 7th-fret barre voicing offers a higher register with the same root in the bass.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C major 9th written?
C major 9th is written C or Cmaj9. No enharmonic spelling is used.
What is the difference between C major 9th and C add 9?
C major 9th includes the major 7th B along with the 9th D. C add 9 omits the 7th, giving a less dense sound.
Why is the low E string muted in the open shape?
The low E is muted to preserve the intended bass note C on the A string, not because it clashes. It keeps the voicing clear and root-positioned.