Piano chord
Cm(add9)C minor added ninth
- C1
- E♭♭3
- G5
- D9
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play Cm(add9) on piano
- Find C: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on C, 2 on E♭, 3 on G, 5 on D.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on C, 4 on E♭, 3 on G, 1 on D.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · C – E♭ – G – D
1st inversion · E♭ – G – D – C
2nd inversion · G – D – C – E♭
3rd inversion · D – C – E♭ – G
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Cm(add9) inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on C; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: CRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 2nd inversionbass: GRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: DRight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
Cm(add9) with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C an octave lower, the right hand plays C–E♭–G–D.
Cm(add9) on other instruments
About the Cm(add9) chord
To build C minor added ninth, take these 4 notes from the root up: C (1), E♭ (♭3), G (5), D (9). A minor added ninth: a minor triad plus the ninth. Wistful and modern, a common substitute for the plain minor chord.
On the keyboard, start from C and add the other notes above it: C – E♭ – G – D. From the lowest to the highest key that is 14 semitones. It is too wide for one hand: play C with the left hand and the rest with the right.
Each inversion of Cm(add9) puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–G–D–C). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G (G–D–C–E♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is D (D–C–E♭–G).
Compared with Cm, Cm(add9) has one more note, D.
Questions
What notes are in the Cm(add9) chord?
Cm(add9) (C minor added ninth) has 4 notes: C (1), E♭ (♭3), G (5), D (9).
How many inversions does Cm(add9) have?
Cm(add9) can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C–E♭–G–D); 1st inversion (E♭–G–D–C); 2nd inversion (G–D–C–E♭); 3rd inversion (D–C–E♭–G).
What is the difference between Cm(add9) and Cm?
Compared with Cm, Cm(add9) has one more note, D.
Can I play Cm(add9) with one hand?
In root position Cm(add9) spans 14 semitones, more than an octave. Play the root with the left hand and the upper notes with the right, or leave out the fifth.