C Major 9th
Cmaj9
Notes
C · E · G · B · D
Intervals
- RootC (1P)
- Major 3rdE (3M)
- Perfect 5thG (5P)
- Major 7thB (7M)
- Major 9thD (9M)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
Voicings & shapes
Rootless voicings (A / B form) (4)
About
The C major 9th (C–E–G–B–D) extends a maj7 with a ninth. The result combines the gentle shimmer of the major-7 interval with the openness of the D. The 3rd, 7th, and 9th are the essential tones — the 5th is typically dropped on guitar, since it adds little harmonic information and clutters the voicing. Common in jazz and R&B as a tonic or subdominant color. Compared to CMaj7, maj9 feels more expansive and less static; the added 9th breathes air into the chord without introducing tension. Compared to C6/9, it is more harmonically active because of the 7th.
Chord diagrams
C Major 9th voicing charts — tap a sheet to open it full size to save or print.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- C Lydian (I)
- C Major (I)
- A Dorian (III)
- A Natural Minor (III)
- B Locrian (II)
- B Phrygian (II)
- D Dorian (VII)
- D Mixolydian (VII)
- E Natural Minor (VI)
- E Phrygian (VI)
- F Lydian (V)
- F♯ Locrian (V)
- G Major (IV)
- G Mixolydian (IV)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.