Cmadd9

Cmadd9 is C, Eb, G and D, a minor add nine. The shape this page opens on is written x31033, lowest string first.

Also written Cm(add9), Cmin(add9) or C-add9. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 8 common shapes for Cmadd9 on the guitar, and 24 derived voicings in 3 families.

In which keys. Every note of Cmadd9 belongs to C minor (the i), Eb major (the vi), G minor (the iv) and Bb major (the ii).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: x31033, x30543, x6553x, 860788, 8-10-10-8-8-10, x-x-10-8-8-10, x-x-13-12-13-10, x-15-13-12-15-x.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. Cmadd9 has x3103x, x5554x, x-x-10-8-8-10, 10-10-10-8-x-x, x-x-12-12-13-11, xx1533, 3515xx, xx5748.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. Cmadd9 has 3x153x, x5x543, 8x574x, x6x788, 10-x-10-8-8-x, x-15-x-12-15-11, 11-x-12-12-13-x, x-10-x-8-13-10.

Open string. An open string left ringing against a fretted grip. Because it costs no finger, it sounds a note the closed shape has none left for -- a tension on top, or a pedal root underneath. Either a familiar grip with open strings added, or a shape so sparse the open strings carry the chord. These belong to their key rather than to a shape, so D, A, G and E have many and Eb a handful. Cmadd9 has xx0043, 3x004x, 3600xx.

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.