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C minor major 9th chord on guitar (CmMaj9)
Also called or written CmMaj9, Cminmaj9, CmM9, Cmin(maj9) or Cm(maj9)
C minor major 9th contains C, E♭, G, B and D. The 8th-fret voicing is a full barre with a pinky stretch to fret 10 on the high E.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7, 9
- Root positionC–E♭–G–B–DCmMaj98-10-9-8-8-10
- First inversionE♭–G–B–D–CCmMaj9/E♭11-10-10-12-12-10
- Second inversionG–B–D–C–E♭CmMaj9/Gno shape on this instrument
- Third inversionB–D–C–E♭–GCmMaj9/Bno shape on this instrument
- Fourth inversionD–C–E♭–G–BCmMaj9/D10-10-9-8-8-8
How do you play a C minor major 9th chord on guitar?
C minor major 9th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 9 8 8 10: barre your index finger across fret 8, ring finger on the A string at fret 10, middle finger on the D string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (5) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 2 | B (7) |
| 3 (G) | 8 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 4 | D (2) |
AdvancedThe index barre must hold the low E, G, B and high E at fret 8 while the pinky reaches fret 10 on the high E.
Cminmaj9/E♭ inversion
C minor major 9th is played at the 10th fret as 11 10 10 12 12 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, middle finger on the low E string at fret 11, ring finger on the G string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11 | 2 | E♭ (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 3 | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 4 | B (7) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (2) |
Cminmaj9/D inversion · fret 8
C minor major 9th is played at the 8th fret as 10 10 9 8 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, ring finger on the low E string at fret 10, pinky finger on the A string at fret 10 and middle finger on the D string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 3 | D (2) |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (5) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 2 | B (7) |
| 3 (G) | 8 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
Cminmaj9/D inversion · fret 10
C minor major 9th is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 10 12 12 11: barre your index finger across fret 10, ring finger on the G string at fret 12, pinky finger on the B string at fret 12 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (2) |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 3 | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 4 | B (7) |
| 1 (e) | 11 | 2 | E♭ (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
C minor major 9th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7, 9. The major 7th B against the minor 3rd E♭ creates the chord's characteristic tension. Compare it to C minor major 7th, which omits the 9th D.
What goes wrong with C minor major 9th?
- Let the high E string buzz under the pinky at fret 10.
- Allow the middle finger to touch the G string, deadening the barre note at fret 8.
- Lift the index barre off the low E string, losing the root C.
When to use it
Use C minor major 9th in place of C minor for a more complex color. It suits jazz ballads and film-score tension.
Changing to and from C minor major 9th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 7th fret gives B minor major 9th.
- Move to C minor major 7th by lifting the pinky off the high E string and letting the B string ring at fret 8.
Which voicing to use
The 8th-fret voicing puts the root C in the bass for a grounded sound. The C minor major 9th/E♭ inversion at the 10th fret places E♭ in the bass, softening the chord's bite. Choose the D inversion when you want the 9th in the bass for a floating, unresolved feel.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C minor major 9th written?
C minor major 9th is written CmM9, min(maj9), m(maj9), or Cminmaj9.
What is the difference between C minor major 9th and C minor add 9?
C minor add 9 contains C, E♭, G and D, omitting the major 7th B. C minor major 9th includes both the major 7th and the 9th, creating a denser, more dissonant sound.
Can C minor major 9th be used in a minor key?
C minor major 9th is the tonic chord in C harmonic minor and C melodic minor. It is not diatonic to C natural minor, which has a minor 7th B♭ instead of B.