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Guitar chords · Minor 9th

Cm9 chord on guitar

Cm9 (C minor 9th) has five notes: C, E♭, G, B♭ and D, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.

Shapes

How to play Cm9

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Cm9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 3 or the E shape at fret 8. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 3

    ××R♭3♭79CE♭B♭D
  • E shape · fret 8

    8fr×R♭7♭359CB♭E♭GD
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Cm9 minor 9th

A minor 9th chord adds the 9th to a minor . It sounds smooth and moody, the sound of neo-soul, R&B and jazz ballads. Keep the ♭3rd, the ♭7th and the 9th; the 5th can go.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd, the ♭7th and the 9th make Cm9 a minor 9th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. CRroot
  2. E♭♭3essential
  3. G5optional
  4. B♭♭7essential
  5. D9essential
EADGBE0135791215CCCCCCCCGB♭DE♭GB♭DE♭GB♭DE♭GB♭DE♭GB♭DE♭GB♭DE♭GB♭DGB♭DE♭G
  • C, the root
  • Other chord tones

Cm9 often leads to F7 and then B♭: the ii9–V7–I of B♭ major.

Keys

Keys with Cm9

Cm9 belongs to four keys: E♭ major (vi9), B♭ major (ii9), C minor (i9) and G minor (iv9).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

Cm9 over another bass note

A keeps Cm9 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Cm9/E♭

    Cm9 with its ♭3rd, E♭, in the bass.

  • Cm9/G

    Cm9 with its 5th, G, in the bass.

  • Cm9/B♭

    Cm9 with its ♭7th, B♭, in the bass.

Questions

Cm9, in short

What notes are in the Cm9 chord?
Cm9 (C minor 9th) has five notes: C, E♭, G, B♭ and D, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.
How do you play Cm9 on guitar?
Cm9 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 3 or the E shape at fret 8.
What key is Cm9 in?
Cm9 belongs to four keys: E♭ major (vi9), B♭ major (ii9), C minor (i9) and G minor (iv9).
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