Cmadd9

Cmadd9 is C, Eb, G and D, a minor add nine. The shape this page opens on is written x31033, lowest string first.

Note by note. C is the root, Eb is the minor third, G is the fifth and D is the ninth.

Also written Cm(add9), Cmin(add9) or C-add9. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 8 common shapes for Cmadd9 on the guitar, and 24 derived voicings in 3 families.

One note away. Change a single note of Cmadd9 and you have Cm (with one note taken away), Csus2 (with one note taken away), Csus2sus4 (with one note moved), Cm6 (with one note moved), Cm69 (with one note added) or Cm7 (with one note moved).

In which keys. Every note of Cmadd9 belongs to C minor (the i), Eb major (the vi), G minor (the iv) and Bb major (the ii).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: x31033, x30543, x6553x, 860788, 8-10-10-8-8-10, x-x-10-8-8-10, x-x-13-12-13-10, x-15-13-12-15-x.

Under the hand. 2 of the 8 shapes here sit in open position, and the first uses 1 open string with 1 left unplayed. 3 of the 8 need a barre. Together they cover the neck from the 1st fret to the 15th.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. Cmadd9 has x3103x, x5554x, x-x-10-8-8-10, 10-10-10-8-x-x, x-x-12-12-13-11, xx1533, 3515xx, xx5748.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. Cmadd9 has 3x153x, x5x543, 8x574x, x6x788, 10-x-10-8-8-x, x-15-x-12-15-11, 11-x-12-12-13-x, x-10-x-8-13-10.

Open string. An open string left ringing against a fretted grip. Because it costs no finger, it sounds a note the closed shape has none left for -- a tension on top, or a pedal root underneath. Either a familiar grip with open strings added, or a shape so sparse the open strings carry the chord. These belong to their key rather than to a shape, so D, A, G and E have many and Eb a handful. Cmadd9 has xx0043, 3x004x, 3600xx.

What kind of chord this is. Cmadd9 is a minor chord — root, minor third, fifth. minor chords on every root, and what they are for.

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.