C Major 9th Guitar Chord
All positions and voicings on the fretboard
No playable voicings found for this chord. Try a different chord type or root note.
C Major 9th filtered by fret:
C Major 9th — chord details
The C Major 9th chord is made up of the following notes: C, E, G, B, D.
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 9M.
The diagrams above show every voicing and chord variation for C Major 9th on guitar. Use the fret filter to narrow down voicings within a specific fret range — ideal for finding close-proximity chords when composing or arranging.
The C major ninth extends the major seventh chord by adding the ninth, creating a five-note voicing with C, E, G, B, D (intervals 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 9M). The added ninth introduces extra color and spaciousness, resulting in a chord that sounds lush, modern, and impressionistic. Major ninths are staples in contemporary jazz, neo-soul, and R&B, lending arrangements a refined harmonic complexity.
How to Play C Major 9th
On guitar, C maj9 typically requires a barre or partial barre voicing. Experiment with different positions to find the voicing that best suits your playing context — higher positions sound brighter and tighter, while lower positions offer more bass and resonance. CAGED system shapes help navigate these options efficiently.
C Major 9th in Progressions
C maj9 appears in various harmonic contexts depending on the key. Analyze the surrounding chords to determine its function — it may serve as a primary chord, a substitution, or a chromatic color chord that enriches the harmonic palette of a progression.
Common Substitutions
Cmaj7, C6/9, or Cadd9 provide simpler alternatives with similar brightness.
Difficulty: On guitar, this chord is intermediate — a barre or partial barre is likely needed, but the shape is manageable with practice.