Pop progression
in C major
Piano chord
C Major 9th Piano Chord (Cmaj9)
The C Major 9th chord on piano is made of the notes C, E, G, B and D. Lush and sophisticated. A major 7th with an added 9th.
Tap any key to hear it.
What notes are in C Major 9th?
5 notes, built 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9 up from C.
- Notes
- C – E – G – B – D
- Formula
- 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9
- Semitones from the root
- 0 – 4 – 7 – 11 – 14
- Symbol
- Cmaj9
- Chord type
- Major 9th, 5 notes
How to play C Major 9th on piano
C Major 9th 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, B, D (fingers 1, 3 and 5).
C Major 9th inversions
Each inversion puts a different note of the chord in the bass. Written as a slash chord: Cmaj9/E, Cmaj9/G, Cmaj9/B.
Can you find C Major 9th?
Tap the notes on the keyboard, then check. Six chords, starting with this one.
1 / 6 Tap the notes of C Major 9th (Cmaj9)
Score 0
Any octave, any order. Each key you tap plays.
What key is C Major 9th in?
The keys whose scale contains every note of Cmaj9, with the chord’s Roman numeral in each.
Major keys
- C majorImaj9
- G majorIVmaj9
Minor keys
- A minorIIImaj9
- E minorVImaj9
C Major 9th chord FAQ
What notes are in the C Major 9th chord?
C Major 9th (Cmaj9) has 5 notes: C, E, G, B and D. Its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9, counted up from C.
How do you play C Major 9th on the piano?
Spread it over two hands: the left hand plays C and G (fingers 5 and 1), the right hand plays E, B, D (fingers 1, 3 and 5).
What are the inversions of C Major 9th?
1st inversion: E, G, B, C, D (Cmaj9/E). 2nd inversion: G, B, C, D, E (Cmaj9/G). 3rd inversion: B, C, D, E, G (Cmaj9/B).
What key is C Major 9th in?
Cmaj9 belongs to C major (Imaj9), G major (IVmaj9), A minor (IIImaj9) and E minor (VImaj9).