Chord and FretCmaj9 on guitar
On the guitar, six strings give the chord room to breathe — some positions use them all, others ask you to mute the lowest ones. In this Cmaj9 voicing the bass is C and the shape sits at fret 3, ringing 4 open strings. Its hollow wooden body gives every chord a warm, natural ring that blooms and fades on its own.
Notes in Cmaj9: C – E – G – B – DFormula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9In the formula, the numbers count steps of the major scale starting from the note that names the chord; "b" lowers a half step, "#" raises one — and a slash names the bass note.
Where to use it: Ballads, bossa nova and neo-soul love this chord to open or close a song. It is the natural pick when a plain maj7 feels too plain — the ninth adds an extra glow without disturbing the rest.
Every region of the neck hides more shapes of Cmaj9 on guitar. In Chord and Fret, you hear every shape strummed string by string, in the instrument's own voice; compare positions with their difficulty marked; and set a capo — the diagrams redraw above it. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. Plays offline.
See the whole neck in Chord and Fret →Part of the Extended family.