Piano chord
C9C dominant ninth
- C1
- E3
- G5
- B♭♭7
- D9
- Notes
- 5
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-3-5
How to play C9 on piano
- Find C: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play C with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on E, 3 on B♭, 5 on D.
- Leave out G: the chord is still recognisable without it, and the hand stays relaxed.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · C – E – G – B♭ – D
1st inversion · E – G – B♭ – D – C
2nd inversion · G – B♭ – D – C – E
3rd inversion · B♭ – D – C – E – G
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
C9 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of C9. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has C at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: CC – E – G – B♭ – D
- 1st inversionbass: EE – G – B♭ – D – C
- 2nd inversionbass: GG – B♭ – D – C – E
- 3rd inversionbass: B♭B♭ – D – C – E – G
C9 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays C, the right hand plays the colour notes E–B♭–D. Notes that can be left out are left out.
C9 on other instruments
About the C9 chord
The 5 notes of C dominant ninth are C (1), E (3), G (5), B♭ (♭7), D (9). A dominant ninth: a dominant seventh with the ninth on top. Funky and rich, typical of blues, funk and soul.
Put your thumb on C and count up: C – E – G – B♭ – D. The whole chord spans 14 semitones from bottom to top. That is wider than an octave, so most pianists split C9: C in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of C9 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is E (E–G–B♭–D–C). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G (G–B♭–D–C–E). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–D–C–E–G).
Add D to C7 and you have C9.
Questions
What notes are in the C9 chord?
C9 (C dominant ninth) has 5 notes: C (1), E (3), G (5), B♭ (♭7), D (9).
How many inversions does C9 have?
C9 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C–E–G–B♭–D); 1st inversion (E–G–B♭–D–C); 2nd inversion (G–B♭–D–C–E); 3rd inversion (B♭–D–C–E–G).
What is the difference between C9 and C7?
Add D to C7 and you have C9.
Can I play C9 with one hand?
In root position C9 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.