Cadd9
Cadd9 is the c added 9th chord, spelled C – E – G – D. a plain triad plus the ninth — colour without the seventh, clean and contemporary.
The keys
C – E – G – D
Practise this chord
Plug in your MIDI keyboard and let Coach Tshepho drill you on Cadd9 — it plays the chord, names any wrong notes as you play, and moves you on when you nail it.
Create your free account →What's inside Cadd9
| Note | Interval from root | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 1 |
| E | Major 3rd | 3 |
| G | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| D | Major 9th | 9 |
Inversions
| Position | Keys (low → high) |
|---|---|
| Root position | C4 – E4 – G4 – D5 |
| 1st inversion | E4 – G4 – D5 – C5 |
| 2nd inversion | G4 – D5 – C5 – E5 |
| 3rd inversion | D5 – C5 – E5 – G5 |
A working voicing
Split the chord between two hands the way working players do — a solid shell low down, the colour tones up top:
| Hand | Keys |
|---|---|
| Left (shell) | C2 – G2 |
| Right (colour) | E4 – D5 |
Where Cadd9 lives
As the I chord
Cadd9 → F → G → Cadd9
The classic I–IV–V–I motion with this chord as home.
In a ii–V–I
Dm7 → G7 → Cadd9
The strongest cadence in harmony, resolving onto this chord.
Put Cadd9 under your fingers
Hear every voicing, see the keys light up, and drill it in the interactive Chord & Voicing Lab.
Open the Chord & Voicing Lab →More C chords
C
Cm
Cdim
Caug
Csus2
Csus4
C6
Cm6
C7
Cmaj7
Cm7
Cm7♭5
Cdim7
Cm(maj7)
C9
Cmaj9
Cm9
C6/9
Cm11
C13
C7♭9
C7♯9
C7♯5Play it over a groove
Free worship grooves & loops →