Cadd9 chord
Cadd9 is C, E, G and D: 1–3–5–9 built on C. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
x-3-2-0-3-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- C · E · G · D
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
- First shape
- x-3-2-0-3-0
Cadd9 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · C–E–G–D · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- C · E · G · D
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
Cadd9 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
0-2-0-3 · open · easy
- Notes
- C · E · G · D
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
- First shape
- 0-2-0-3
Cadd9 and the chords around it
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- Cadd9 → F (IV in C major)
Guitar: Cadd9 (x-3-2-0-3-0) to F (1-3-3-2-1-1): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the D string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared note: C.
Piano: Cadd9 to F: play F in 2nd inversion (C–F–A) and C stays under the same finger, while E moves up to F and G up to A. F - Cadd9 → G (V in C major)
Guitar: Cadd9 (x-3-2-0-3-0) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): the index finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the low E string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the high E string at the same fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for G and D, which stay put while the rest moves.
Piano: Cadd9 to G: play G in root position (G–B–D) and G and D stay under the same fingers, while E moves up to B. G - Cadd9 → Am (vi in C major)
Guitar: Cadd9 (x-3-2-0-3-0) to Am (x-0-2-2-1-0): your index finger lands on the B string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the D string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the G string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. C and E carry over from one chord to the other.
Piano: Cadd9 to Am: play Am in 1st inversion (C–E–A) and C and E stay under the same fingers, while G moves up to A. Am
How Cadd9 is built
Cadd9 is C major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. It keeps the bright major sound and adds a shimmer; guitarists love it because the open shapes ring.
Start on C, count 4 half steps up to E, 3 half steps up to G then 7 half steps up to D.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | root | 0 | |
| E | major third | 4 | |
| G | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| D | ninth | 14 |
Keys and progressions with Cadd9
Cadd9 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
Chords close to Cadd9
Chords that share most of their notes with Cadd9: C9, C, Csus2, Gsus4, C7, Cmaj7.
Every C chord
Cadd9 chord: questions
What notes are in the Cadd9 chord?
C, E, G and D. Cadd9 is built 1–3–5–9 from C: E is the major third, G is the perfect fifth and D is the ninth.
How do you play Cadd9 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-3-2-0-3-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Cadd9 on piano?
Play C, E, G and D with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. C sits just left of the pair of black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Cadd9 on ukulele?
0-2-0-3 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Cadd9 in?
Cadd9 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
What's the difference between Cadd9 and C?
Cadd9 is C plus D.
All three instruments are drawn and played from C, E, G and D by the same engine. Updated September 2026.