Cmaj9
C Major 9th — the maj7 opened up with a ninth — wide, modern, and glassy; a staple of contemporary keys playing.
The keys
C – E – G – B – D
What's inside Cmaj9
| Note | Interval from root | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 1 |
| E | Major 3rd | 3 |
| G | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| B | Major 7th | 7 |
| D | Major 9th | 9 |
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 – B2 |
| Right (colour) | E4 – D5 |
Where Cmaj9 lives
As the i chord
Cmaj9 → A♭ → B♭ → Cmaj9
The minor home base: i–VI–VII pulls away and lands back home.
In a ii–V–i
Dm7♭5 → G7 → Cmaj9
The minor two-five resolving into this chord as the destination.
Put Cmaj9 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 →