C9 chord on guitar

C9 is C, E, G, B♭ and D. The usual shape is x-3-2-3-3-0. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

x-3-2-3-3-0 · open · medium

Notes: C · E · G · B♭ · D
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
First shape: x-3-2-3-3-0

How to play C9 on guitar

Shape 1, x-3-2-3-3-0, reading from the low E string on the left:

E: index finger, 2nd fret of the D string.
C: middle finger, 3rd fret of the A string.
B♭: ring finger, 3rd fret of the G string.
D: pinky finger, 3rd fret of the B string.
Leave the high E string open: E.
Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.
The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.

Other ways to play C9

8-10-8-9-8-10: barre shape at the 8th fret, medium. The root is on the low E string, so you can slide this shape to play any dominant ninth chord.
8-5-5-5-5-6: partial barre shape at the 5th fret, medium. Use it when the next chord sits nearby on the neck.
x-15-12-15-13-12: partial barre shape at the 12th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

Moving between C9 and its neighbours

Songs rarely hold C9 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

F (dominant, pulls to the chord a fifth below): C9 (x-3-2-3-3-0) to F (1-3-3-2-1-1): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. C carries over from one chord to the other. F on guitar
Fmaj7 (I in F major): C9 (x-3-2-3-3-0) to Fmaj7 (x-x-3-2-1-0): the index finger goes to the B string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the D string at the same fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Listen for C and E, which stay put while the rest moves. Fmaj7 on guitar
Dm7 (vi in F major): C9 (x-3-2-3-3-0) to Dm7 (x-x-0-2-1-1): your index finger lands on the B string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the high E string, 1st 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. Shared notes: C and D. Dm7 on guitar

C9 is a dominant ninth: C7 with the ninth on top. C9 is the funk and soul version of C7, fuller on top and still pulling toward its resolution. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Getting C9 under your fingers

Before strumming, play x-3-2-3-3-0 note by note: C then E then B♭ then D then E. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Next, alternate x-3-2-3-3-0 and 8-10-8-9-8-10, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Keys and progressions with C9

C9 on piano and ukulele

C9 on piano and ukulele uses the same 5 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on guitar

Other dominant ninth chords

C9 on guitar: questions

What notes are in C9 on guitar?

C, E, G, B♭ and D. In the x-3-2-3-3-0 shape the strings play C (A string), E (D string), B♭ (G string), D (B string) and E (high E string, open).

What's the easiest way to play C9 on guitar?

None of the C9 shapes is a true beginner shape, but x-3-2-3-3-0 comes closest. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and a capo is worth trying when the song allows.

Is C9 a barre chord on guitar?

Not in its common form: x-3-2-3-3-0 needs no barre. The barre versions come later, higher on the neck.

Which string does C9 start on?

In the x-3-2-3-3-0 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 3rd fret, which is C, the root. Skip the low E string.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside C9. Updated September 2026.