Cmaj9 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 Cmaj9 are C, E, G, B and D. C is the root, E the major third, G the fifth, B the major seventh and D the ninth.
String by string, low to high, it plays C, D, G, B and E. It runs from C on string 5 up to E on string 1.
The open strings add notes to Cmaj9 too. String 4 gives D, string 3 gives G, string 2 gives B and string 1 gives E. String 6 is not played. Every finger presses at fret 3. There is one more position, starting at fret 2.
Change only string 4 in Cmaj9 and you have Cmaj7. Inside Cmaj9 sits a complete G chord, made of G, B and D. Moving to C, you keep one finger down.
Cmaj9 shows up in four keys. In C major it is the Imaj9, in G major the IVmaj9 and in E minor the VImaj9. The rest appear in the key list.
C 1E 3G 5B 7D 9
Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 3 (C)
String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted
Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 3 with your Ring finger. Play open: 4th String (D), 3rd String (G), 2nd String (B), 1st String (High E). 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 2 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 4 with your Pinky finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 3 with your Ring finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).
| Item | In this chord |
|---|---|
| Frets | fret 3 |
| Fretting fingers | 1 |
| Open | 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st |
| Muted | 6th |
The open 4th string sits next to a fretting finger.
Listen: Cmaj9 → C · F · Em
No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.
Cmaj9 sits in the scale of 4 keys.
The questions that come up most when playing this chord
To play the Cmaj9 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 Cmaj9 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 Cmaj9 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9 formula (Major Seventh with Ninth). Its constituent pitches are C, E, G, B, D.
To prevent the Cmaj9 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.
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