How to Play Piano Chord: C major 9 — root | PianoKitty

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Cmaj9

root position

C major 9

root position

Notes

C, E, G, B, D

Parent major scale: C

The notes of the C major scale are:

#	Note	Function
1	C	root
2	D	second
3	E	third
4	F	fourth
5	G	fifth
6	A	sixth
7	B	seventh
8	C	octave
9	D	ninth

Major scale pattern

The semitone pattern for a major scale is:

WWHWWWH

where:

W = Whole step (2 semitones)
H = Half step (1 semitone)

major 9 chord pattern

1, 3, 5, 7, 9

root	C
third	E
fifth	G
seventh	B
ninth	D

Similar chords

C major 7 with a minor 3rd added on top (3 semitones)
C minor-major 9 with flattened third
C major 9 sharp 5 with raised fifth
C dominant 9 with flattened seventh

Upper structures

C major + C (notes overlap)

Play it as two chords

G major C · B

G–B–D = 5, 7, 9 · left hand: root + major 7th
E minor C · B

E–G–B = 3, 5, 7 · left hand: root + major 7th

Practice the major 9 chords Practice all inversions of Cmaj9

The keyboard can of every chord — change it any time in Preferences.