Cmaj9 Guitar Chord

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Cmaj9 is a major 9th chord made of C · E · G · B · D. A maj7 chord with the 9th added. The standard shape is a barre chord at fret 2: x3243x (6th string → 1st string, x = don't play, 0 = open string).

Chord charts

Cmaj9

Fret 2 · root on 5th string · x3243x

Cmaj9

Open position · root on 5th string · x30000

Cmaj9

Fret 7 barre · root on 6th string · 879787 · from fret 7

Cmaj9

Fret 19 barre · root on 6th string · 20-19-21-19-20-19 · from fret 19

Index finger on string 4 (D), fret 2.
Middle finger on string 5 (A), fret 3.
Ring finger on string 2 (B), fret 3.
Pinky finger on string 3 (G), fret 4.
Don't play strings 6, 1 (or mute lightly).
Strum down from string 5.

Cmaj9 guitar chord chart — fret 2 barre x3243x and 3 more shapes — All Cmaj9 shapes on one image — long-press (or right-click) to save it.

Notes in the chord

C
rootE
3rdG
5thB
7thD
9th

Play it easier with a capo

There's no convenient open shape to capo for this chord — the barre shape is the way to go.

Try it: capo on

Scales that fit

Other C chords

C Cm C7 Cmaj7 Cm7 C6 Cm6 Csus4 Csus2 C7sus4 Cdim Cdim7 Cm7b5 Caug Cadd9 C9 Cm9 Cmaj9

Major 9th chords in other keys

Cmaj9 C♯maj9 Dmaj9 E♭maj9 Emaj9 Fmaj9 F♯maj9 Gmaj9 A♭maj9 Amaj9 B♭maj9 Bmaj9

FAQ

What notes are in the Cmaj9 chord?

The Cmaj9 chord is made of C, E, G, B, D. A maj7 chord with the 9th added.

What's the easiest way to play Cmaj9 on guitar?

The standard shape, from the 6th string to the 1st, is x3243x (a barre chord at fret 2). Barre with your index finger and form the shape with the other fingers.

Which scale works for soloing over Cmaj9?

C major or C lydian fits well.

🎸 Transpose a whole chord sheet — Buskermate
Upload a PDF song sheet and Buskermate reads the chords and moves them to any key or capo position (the app is in Korean for now).