CifraLab

C6/9 Guitar Chord

C6/9 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
C6/9Guitar fingering diagram for C6/91234×21134STRING6ª×5ªC4ªE3ªA2ªD1ªG
View HD sheet

What sets C6/9 apart

Play C6/9 one string at a time and you hear C, E, G, A and D. C is the root, E the major third, G the fifth, A the sixth and D the ninth.

From the low string to the high one you hear C, E, A, D and G. The lowest note is C on string 5 and the highest is G on string 1.

C6/9 is a closed shape with no open strings. Move it to another fret and the chord changes, but the fingering stays. String 6 stays silent. Everything fits between frets 2 and 3. The second shape on this page starts at fret 7.

C9 is one change away. String 3 moves from fret 2 to fret 3, bringing in Bb, the minor seventh of C9. C6/9 holds the whole Am chord inside it, C, E and A. Going to F, two positions stay the same.

You will find C6/9 in six different keys. In C major it is the I6/9, in F major the V6/9 and in G major the IV6/9. The rest appear in the key list.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01C C - Am - Dm - G702Em Em - C - Am - B7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (C6/9)

Formula: Sixth with Ninth (1 - 3 - 5 - 6 - 9)
Constituent chord intervals:

C 1E 3G 5A 6D 9

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 3 (C)

String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for C6/9:

01

Bossa Nova

Standard Position
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 3Finger 2
CDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 1
EDegree 3
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 1
ADegree 6
2nd String (B)
Fret 3Finger 3
DDegree 9
1st String (High E)
Fret 3Finger 4
GDegree 5

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 3 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 3 with your Ring finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 3 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

02

Fret 8

Barre fret 7
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 8Finger 3
CDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 7Barre
EDegree 3
4th String (D)
Fret 7Barre
ADegree 6
3rd String (G)
Fret 7Barre
DDegree 9
2nd String (B)
Fret 8Finger 4
GDegree 5
1st String (High E)
Fret 8Finger 4
CDegree 1

Placement tip: Barre fret 7. Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 8 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 8 with your Pinky finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 8 with your Pinky finger.

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (C6/9)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets2 to 3
Fretting fingers4
Opennone
Muted6th

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from C6/9

Listen: C6/9 → F · Dm · Em

  1. C6/9
  2. F
  3. C6/9
  4. Dm
  5. C6/9
  6. Em
C6/9 → F01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 shared positions
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 3
  • string 3, fret 2
Move
  • string 6, fret 1
  • string 4, fret 3
  • string 2, fret 1
  • string 1, fret 1
C6/9 → Dm02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 3: string 2, fret 3
Move
  • finger 2: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 1, fret 1
C6/9 → Em03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2

C6/9 in every key

C6/9 sits in the scale of 6 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
2/5
Highest fret
3
Frets the hand covers
2
Barre
No
Strings that ring
5/6
Fretting fingers
4

C6/9 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (C6/9)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the C6/9 chord?

To play the C6/9 chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the C6/9 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the C6/9 chord is its root note: C. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 3.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the C6/9 chord and what is its formula?

The C6/9 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - 6 - 9 formula (Sixth with Ninth). Its constituent pitches are C, E, G, A, D.

How do you prevent the C6/9 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the C6/9 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official C6/9 chord diagram

C6/9 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the C family:

Chord C Chord C#m Chord Cm Chord C7 Chord Cmaj7 Chord C#m7 Chord Cm7 Chord Csus2