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C7♭9 Chord on Guitar

C7♭9 is the C dominant 7♭9 chord — 5 notes (C, E, G, B♭, D♭) built from the formula 1 3 5 ♭7 ♭9. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: C · E · G · B♭ · D♭Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · ♭9Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

C7♭9: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • C7♭9 – open position×R3♭7♭93open position
  • C7♭9 – fret 2×R3♭7♭95fret 2
  • C7♭9 – fret 88R5♭735♭9fret 8
  • C7♭9 – fret 99××R3♭7♭9fret 9
  • C7♭9 – fret 1414×R3♭7♭95fret 14

C7♭9: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • C7♭9 – R-3-77R3♭7×××R-3-7
  • C7♭9 – R-3-7×R3♭7××R-3-7
  • C7♭9 – R-7-38R×♭73××R-7-3
  • C7♭9 – R-7-3×R×♭73×R-7-3

Scales to play over C7♭9

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain C, E, G, B♭, D♭.

Other C chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Dominant 7♭9 chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the C7♭9 chord?
C7♭9 (C dominant 7♭9) contains C, E, G, B♭, D♭ — formula 1 3 5 ♭7 ♭9.
How do you play C7♭9 on guitar?
A common shape is x32320 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with C7♭9?
Good choices to solo over C7♭9: C Phrygian dominant, C Diminished (half-whole).