C9 piano chord (C dominant 9th)
C – E – G – B♭ – D
Formula 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9
C9 inversions
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts a different one at the bottom. Use them to move to the next chord with the smallest hand movement.
Root position C9
C – E – G – B♭ – D
1st inversion C9/E
E – G – B♭ – D – C
2nd inversion C9/G
G – B♭ – D – C – E
3rd inversion C9/B♭
B♭ – D – C – E – G
4th inversion C9/D
D – C – E – G – B♭
C9 chord questions
What notes are in the C dominant 9th chord?
C9 is C, E, G, B♭, D. Its formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9, counted from the root C.
How do you play C9 on piano?
With the right hand in root position, play C–E–G–B♭–D using all five fingers (1–5) (thumb on C). The full five-note shape spans more than an octave, so pianists usually play the root C in the left hand and E–G–B♭–D in the right.
What are the inversions of C9?
Root position: C–E–G–B♭–D; 1st inversion: E–G–B♭–D–C; 2nd inversion: G–B♭–D–C–E; 3rd inversion: B♭–D–C–E–G; 4th inversion: D–C–E–G–B♭.