Cadd9 Chord on Guitar
Cadd9 C E G D 3 shapes Open chord
Chord diagrams
How to play Cadd9 on guitar
The Cadd9 chord (Cadd9) is made of C, E, G, D - 1 3 5 9. On a guitar in standard tuning the easiest way to play it is the open shape x32030, with no barre. Below are 3 shapes in all, from the lowest on the neck to the highest; the same chord sounds brighter the higher you play it.
A-shape, open position x3203x
E-shape, fret 8 8x(10)98(10)
Strings from the low E (left) to the high E (right). Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little. x = do not play the string, o = open string, a bar = one finger across several strings.
Notes
What notes are in Cadd9?
The Cadd9 chord has 4 different notes: C, E, G, D. The major triad plus the ninth - the second, an octave up. A guitar chord rarely has as many strings as notes, so shapes double some of them: every shape here leaves at least one string unplayed - watch the x marks.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 0 |
| E | Major 3rd | 4 |
| G | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| D | Major 9th | 14 |
Chords that go with it
Chords in the key of C major
The seven chords built on the C major scale, with the easiest shape of each. I, IV and V are the three major chords that carry most songs in this key; vi is its relative minor.
A progression to strum
- I - V - vi - IVC - G - Am - F
Questions
Frequently asked
How do you play Cadd9 on guitar?
The open shape x32030: A string fret 3 (finger 2), D string fret 2 (finger 1), B string fret 3 (finger 3); let G and high E ring open, do not play low E.
What notes are in the Cadd9 chord?
The Cadd9 chord (Cadd9) is made of C, E, G, D. Its formula is 1 3 5 9. On the guitar, some of those notes are played twice on different strings.
Is there a barre version of Cadd9?
The usual Cadd9 shapes on this page are played without a full barre; slide them up the neck to change the root.
Keep playing
Strum Cadd9, then build a song around it
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