Cm9 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.
P - i - m - a - m - i · Smooth Bossa (2/4 · 6 notes · Level 2)
From the bass on the 5th to the 1st string there are 4 different notes. Six plucks give time to hear them. All 6 arpeggios
Subtle syncopation and oscillating timbre.
The notes of Cm9 are C, Eb, G, Bb and D. C is the root, Eb the minor third, G the fifth, Bb the minor seventh and D the ninth. Said aloud, its notes are C, E flat, G, B flat and D.
From the low string to the high one you hear C, Eb, Bb, D and G. The lowest note is C on string 5 and the highest is G on string 1.
The main Cm9 shape needs a barre at fret 3 across three strings. String 6 is not played. Everything fits between frets 1 and 3. The second shape on this page starts at fret 1.
C9 is one change away. String 4 moves from fret 1 to fret 2, bringing in E, the major third of C9. Cm9 holds the whole Eb chord inside it, Eb, G and Bb. Going to Bb, two positions stay the same.
You will find Cm9 in four different keys. In Eb major it is the vi9, in Bb major the ii9 and in C minor the i9. The rest appear in the key list.
C 1Eb ♭3G 5Bb ♭7D 9
Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 3 (C)
String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted
Placement tip: Barre fret 3. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 3 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 1 with your Index finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).
Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 3 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 3 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 3 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).
| Item | In this chord |
|---|---|
| Frets | 1 to 3 |
| Barre | fret 3, from the 3rd to the 1st string |
| Fretting fingers | 3 |
| Open | none |
| Muted | 6th |
At fret 3, only the barre sounds the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings.
Listen: Cm9 → Bb · Cm · G
Cm9 sits in the scale of 4 keys.
The questions that come up most when playing this chord
To play the Cm9 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.
The primary bass note of the Cm9 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.
The Cm9 chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - 5 - ♭7 - 9 formula (Minor Ninth). Its constituent pitches are C, Eb, G, Bb, D.
To prevent fret buzz on the Cm9 barre chord, roll your index finger slightly outward (about 15 degrees) to press with its harder bony edge. Position your finger directly behind the fret wire and apply gentle arm pull from your back rather than squeezing with thumb force.
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