C dominant 9th · Guitar
C9 Chord on Guitar
The C9 chord (C dominant 9th) is built from the notes C, E, G, A# and D. 2 different guitar fingerings for it are shown below.
Chord diagrams
Fingering
- string 6 (E): muted
- string 5 (A): fret 3 — middle finger
- string 4 (D): fret 2 — index finger
- string 3 (G): fret 3 — ring finger
- string 2 (B): fret 3 — little finger
- string 1 (E): muted
Fingering
- string 6 (E): muted
- string 5 (A): muted
- string 4 (D): fret 10 — middle finger
- string 3 (G): fret 9 — index finger
- string 2 (B): fret 11 — little finger
- string 1 (E): fret 10 — ring finger
Notes in this chord
- C
- E
- G
- A♯
- D
Degrees: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9
How to play
C9 can be played with open strings on guitar, which makes it an accessible shape for beginners. Strings marked ○ ring open, while strings marked ✕ are muted.
Theory behind the chord
Dominant ninth chords extend the dominant seventh with a ninth on top. They keep the pull of a seventh chord but sound fuller and more coloured, which is why funk and soul rhythm parts lean on them. On C9 this structure sits on the root C, so the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9 map onto C, E, G, A# and D.
Frequently asked questions
- Which notes are in the C9 chord?
- C9 contains the notes C, E, G, A# and D. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9.
- How many ways can you play C9?
- Minory lists 2 guitar fingerings for C9. They all produce the same chord — what changes is the voicing and where it sits on the neck.
- Is the C9 chord hard to play?
- C9 requires a barre, so it can feel demanding at first. Keeping the index finger straight and pressing from the wrist rather than the thumb makes it noticeably easier.
Practise C9 on your phone
Minory bundles the full chord library with a tuner, metronome and repertoire notebook — and it all works offline.
