Cmadd9
Character: tender
- CRtriad
- E♭♭3triad
- G5triad
- D9add
6 ways to play Cmadd9
Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.
- Triad note
- Substitute
- Added
- Anchored root
- Bass
- Doubling
Frets x 3 1 0 3 3Notes C E♭ G DIntervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadC minor, root position
The 9th gets a string of its own.
Frets 3 3 1 0 3 3Notes G C E♭ DIntervals 5 1 ♭3 9Base triadC minor, 2nd inversion
The 9th gets a string of its own.
Frets x 6 5 5 3 xNotes E♭ G C DIntervals ♭3 5 1 9Base triadC minor, 1st inversion
The 9th gets a string of its own.
Frets 8 6 5 7 8 8Notes C E♭ G DIntervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadC minor, root position
The 9th gets a string of its own.
Frets 8 10 10 8 8 10Notes C E♭ G DIntervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadC minor, root position
The 9th gets a string of its own.
Frets 8 10 12 8 8 8Notes C G D E♭Intervals 1 5 9 ♭3Base triadC minor, 2nd inversion
The root drops to the string below the triad. The 9th takes the root’s string.
The construction rules Cmadd9 follows
Start from a triad
Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.
No 7th, no stack
6, add9, add11 and 6/9 are a triad with a colour note, not a stack. Without a 7th the chord sounds open rather than jazzy.
On guitar, something has to give
Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.
The root can move down
When an extension needs the root’s string, the root can drop to the string below the triad: an anchored voicing keeps the bass and frees a string on top.
All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.
Minor add 9 in every key
More chords on C
Cmadd9 chord questions
What notes are in Cmadd9?
Cmadd9 is spelled C E♭ G D: C is the root, E♭ is the ♭3rd, G is the 5th, D is the 9th.
What is the formula of Cmadd9?
1 ♭3 5 9. It is a C minor triad with the 9th stacked on top.
How many ways can you play Cmadd9 on guitar?
This page shows 6 voicings of Cmadd9, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.