Root position Cadd9
C – E – G – D
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-4-3-1
Cadd9 Chord on Piano
Cadd9 C E G D Formula 1 3 5 9 4 notes
Notes
What notes are in the Cadd9 chord?
The Cadd9 chord has 4 notes: C, E, G, D. The major triad plus the ninth (the second, an octave up): played close, the ninth sits right above the fifth.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 0 |
| E | Major 3rd | 4 |
| G | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| D | Major 9th | 14 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play Cadd9
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion Cadd9/E
E – G – C – D
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-4-3-1
2nd inversion Cadd9/G
G – C – E – D
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-4-3-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with Cadd9
Every key where Cadd9 is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
Cadd9 is not a diatonic chord of any major or natural minor key.
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
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 - the root, then the intervals of a add 9 chord.
How do you play Cadd9 on the piano?
Put your right thumb on C and play the other notes with fingers 1-2-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-4-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of Cadd9?
root position Cadd9 (C E G D); 1st inversion Cadd9/E (E G C D); 2nd inversion Cadd9/G (G C E D).
Play it for real
Hold Cadd9 and build a progression on it
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