C major ninth (Cmaj9) chord on mandolin

Major ninth chord (a major seventh chord plus a major ninth) on C: the notes of the Cmaj9 chord are C – E – G – B – D.

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 5easy

Position 7medium

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What the Cmaj9 chord sounds like

A major ninth is a major seventh chord with an added ninth: spacious, floating and very jazzy as a tonic.

Notes of the Cmaj9 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	C	root
3	E	major third (4 semitones)
5	G	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
7	B	major seventh (11 semitones)
9	D	major second (2 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): open (E5)
String 2 (A): fret 3, index finger (C5)
String 3 (D): open (D4)
String 4 (G): fret 4, middle finger (B3)

Position 5

String 1 (E): fret 7, little finger (B5)
String 2 (A): fret 7, ring finger (E5)
String 3 (D): open (D4)
String 4 (G): fret 5, index finger (C4)

Position 7

String 1 (E): fret 8, ring finger (C6)
String 2 (A): fret 7, middle finger (E5)
String 3 (D): fret 9, little finger (B4)
String 4 (G): fret 7, index finger (D4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The Cmaj9 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

C major: Imaj9 (tonic)
G major: IVmaj9 (subdominant)
A minor: IIImaj9
E minor: VImaj9

Similar chords and substitutes

If Cmaj9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Am7 – relative minor seventh: three shared notes
Em7 – mediant minor seventh: three shared notes
C6 – another tonic colour, more vintage and swingy

Simpler versions

Cmaj7 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
Cadd9 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
C – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
Csus2 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Cmaj9 chord?

C, E, G, B, D. The root is C; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, major second.

What is the easiest way to play Cmaj9 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 3 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some Cmaj9 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 5-note chord. The fifth (G) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the Cmaj9 chord written?

The chord symbol is Cmaj9, and its full name is C major ninth.