Piano chord · Ninths
C major 9th chord on piano
Right hand: C (1), E (2), G (3), B (4), D (5)
How to play Cmaj9 on piano: the keys to press, which fingers to use, inversions and how it’s written on the staff.
Rich and dreamy; the major 7th extended with a 9th.
- Notes
- CEGBD
- Formula
- 13579
- Built from
- root · major 3rd · perfect 5th · major 7th · major 9th
Piano
Root position · numbers are finger numbers
How to play it
Right handC1 · thumbE2 · indexG3 · middleB4 · ringD5 · pinky
Left handC5 · pinkythe root, an octave lower
Finger numbers: 1 thumb · 2 index · 3 middle · 4 ring · 5 pinky. Inversions use the same notes with a different one on the bottom — they help you move smoothly between chords. Tap any key to hear it.
Tips for playing Cmaj9 on piano
On piano, Cmaj9 sits entirely on white keys. In root position it spans more than an octave, so many pianists play the root with the left hand and the rest with the right.
