About the Cmadd9 chord
A minor add9 adds the ninth to a minor chord without a seventh. It is wistful and spacious, and sounds lovely with open strings ringing. The symbol for it is Cmadd9.
How to play Cmadd9
- Put your index finger on the D string at fret 1.
- Put your middle finger on the A string at fret 3.
- Put your ring finger on the B string at fret 3.
- Put your little finger on the high E string at fret 3.
- Strum and let the G string ring open, and don't play the low E string.
1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 little
Chords in the key of C minor
These are the chords built on each note of the C minor scale, so they all sound good together with Cmadd9. The Roman numeral under each one is its position in the key.
Other C chords
Cmadd9 chord questions
What notes are in a Cmadd9 chord?
Cmadd9 is made of C, E♭, G and D. In intervals that is 1, ♭3, 5, 9 above the root, C.
What is the easiest way to play Cmadd9?
The first shape above is the most common one: x 3 1 0 3 3 from the low E string to the high E, where x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. Start there, and try the other shapes once it feels comfortable.
Is Cmadd9 a barre chord?
The main shape above is an open chord with no barre. Some of the other shapes further up the neck do use a barre, which lets you move the same shape to any key.