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C9 Chord on Guitar

C9 is the C dominant 9th chord — 5 notes (C, E, G, B♭, D) built from the formula 1 3 5 ♭7 9. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: C · E · G · B♭ · DFormula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

C9: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • C9 – open position×R9♭793open position
  • C9 – fret 2×R3♭79×fret 2
  • C9 – fret 55R95R3♭7fret 5
  • C9 – fret 77R3♭795×fret 7
  • C9 – fret 88R5♭7359fret 8
  • C9 – fret 99××R3♭79fret 9
  • C9 – fret 1212×R9♭7R3fret 12
  • C9 – fret 1414×R3♭79×fret 14

C9: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • C9 – R-3-77R3♭7×××R-3-7
  • C9 – R-3-7×R3♭7××R-3-7
  • C9 – R-7-38R×♭73××R-7-3
  • C9 – R-7-3×R×♭73×R-7-3

Keys that contain C9

Scales to play over C9

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain C, E, G, B♭, D.

Other C chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Dominant 9th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the C9 chord?
C9 (C dominant 9th) contains C, E, G, B♭, D — formula 1 3 5 ♭7 9.
How do you play C9 on guitar?
A common shape is x30330 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with C9?
Good choices to solo over C9: C Mixolydian, C Lydian dominant, C Mixolydian ♭6.
What key is C9 in?
C9 is diatonic in F major (V9), D minor (♭VII9).