Chord
C Add 9 Chord
Interactive keyboard
Highlighted notes form this chord.
Notes
C · E · G · D
Root: C
Intervals
1 · 3 · 5 · 9
How it is built
This chord starts on C and applies the intervals 1, 3, 5, 9. The result contains 4 distinct pitch classes per octave.
Explore related combinations
Guide and musical context
About C Add 9 Chord
C Add 9 Chord contains C, E, G, D. Its sound is clear and expansive, adding a ninth without a seventh.
Character and sound
Clear and expansive, adding a ninth without a seventh.
Musical context and history
Add9 chords became especially common in modern pop, rock and acoustic arranging because they enrich a triad while keeping a simple open structure.
How and where it is used
They work well as colored tonic or subdominant chords and in open-string voicings.
In Theory view you can hear the pitch collection without depending on a specific fingering. Then switch to Piano, Guitar, Ukulele or Mandolin to see how the same notes are physically distributed on each instrument.
Harmonic and musical relationships
From C, the dominant is G, the subdominant is F and the relative minor is A. These relationships are useful starting points for progressions.
The formula on this page is 1 · 3 · 5 · 9 and, from C, produces the notes C · E · G · D.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C Add 9 Chord?
The notes are C, E, G, D.
What is its interval formula?
The formula is 1 · 3 · 5 · 9.
How does it sound and what is it used for?
Clear and expansive, adding a ninth without a seventh. They work well as colored tonic or subdominant chords and in open-string voicings.
Can I view it on a specific instrument?
Yes. Use the selector near the top to switch between Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Mandolin without changing the musical combination you are studying.