Piano chord

C Add9 Piano Chord (Cadd9)

The C Add9 chord on piano is made of the notes C, E, G and D. Rich and shimmering. A major triad with an added 9th (no 7th).

C Add9 chord on a piano keyboard: C, E, G, D C4C5 C E G D

Cadd9 C – E – G – D

Tap any key to hear it.

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What notes are in C Add9?

4 notes, built 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 up from C.

Notes
C – E – G – D
Formula
1 – 3 – 5 – 9
Semitones from the root
0 – 4 – 7 – 14
Symbol
Cadd9
Chord type
Add 9, 4 notes

How to play C Add9 on piano

C Add9 spans more than an octave, so it is usually split between the hands.

  • Left hand: C and G (fingers 5 and 1).
  • Right hand: E, D (fingers 1 and 5).
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C Add9 inversions

Each inversion puts a different note of the chord in the bass. Written as a slash chord: Cadd9/E, Cadd9/G.

C Add9 root position on piano: C, E, G, D C E G D
Root position Cadd9 C – E – G – D
C Add9 1st inversion on piano: E, G, C, D E G C D
1st inversion Cadd9/E E – G – C – D RH 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 · LH 5 – 3 – 2 – 1
C Add9 2nd inversion on piano: G, C, D, E G C D E
2nd inversion Cadd9/G G – C – D – E RH 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 · LH 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

Progressions with C Add9

Press play: the chords move across the keyboard as they sound, voiced so your hand barely moves.

Pop progression

in C major

  1. Iadd9 Cadd9
  2. V G
  3. vi Am
  4. IV F
Pop progression in C major: Cadd9, G, Am, F C D E G

Three-chord classic

in G major

  1. I G
  2. IVadd9 Cadd9
  3. V D
  4. I G
Three-chord classic in G major: G, Cadd9, D, G B D G

Can you find C Add9?

Tap the notes on the keyboard, then check. Six chords, starting with this one.

1 / 6 Tap the notes of C Add9 (Cadd9)

Score 0

Any octave, any order. Each key you tap plays.

Practice keyboard: tap the notes of the chord

What key is C Add9 in?

The keys whose scale contains every note of Cadd9, with the chord’s Roman numeral in each.

Major keys

  • C majorIadd9
  • G majorIVadd9
  • F majorVadd9

Minor keys

  • A minorIIIadd9
  • F minorVadd9 (harmonic minor)
  • E minorVIadd9
  • D minorVIIadd9

C Add9 chord FAQ

What notes are in the C Add9 chord?

C Add9 (Cadd9) has 4 notes: C, E, G and D. Its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – 9, counted up from C.

How do you play C Add9 on the piano?

Spread it over two hands: the left hand plays C and G (fingers 5 and 1), the right hand plays E, D (fingers 1 and 5).

What are the inversions of C Add9?

1st inversion: E, G, C, D (Cadd9/E). 2nd inversion: G, C, D, E (Cadd9/G).

What key is C Add9 in?

Cadd9 belongs to C major (Iadd9), G major (IVadd9), F major (Vadd9), A minor (IIIadd9), E minor (VIadd9) and D minor (VIIadd9).

Other C chords

Add 9 chords on every root

Piano chord chart: all 264 chords Open Cadd9 in the chord finder Free PDF chord chart Play it on the virtual piano