Cadd9 chord
Shimmering and modern. A plain major chord with a 9th added on top, keeping the third intact.
C added 9th · 2 voicings
Notes in Cadd9
How to Play Cadd9
Open position
x 3 2 0 3 0
Barre, A shape
x 3 5 7 5 3
Numbers under each diagram are frets, string 6 (thickest) to string 1. x means don't play that string; 0 means play it open.
How Cadd9 Relates to Other Chords
It is built on C with an extra note added on top, so it can stand in wherever that chord appears.
Playing tips for Cadd9
Cadd9 has an open-position shape, which means some strings ring open and it is playable without barring. Press just behind the fret rather than on top of it, keep your fingertips arched so they do not deaden neighbouring strings, and strum only the strings the diagram marks as played.
If a string buzzes or sounds dead, the usual causes are a fingertip leaning against it, not quite enough pressure, or a finger too far behind the fret. Play each string one at a time to find which one is failing before adjusting the whole shape — and make sure your guitar is in tune first, since an out-of-tune string will make a correct shape sound wrong. Use our free online tuner to check.
Related Chords
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