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Cm9 Chord on Guitar

Cm9 is the C minor 9th 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♭ · DFormula: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

Cm9: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • Cm9 – open position×R9♭7♭35open position
  • Cm9 – fret 1×R♭3♭79×fret 1
  • Cm9 – fret 88R5♭7♭359fret 8
  • Cm9 – fret 1313×R♭3♭79×fret 13

Cm9: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • Cm9 – R-3-76R♭3♭7×××R-3-7
  • Cm9 – R-3-7×R♭3♭7××R-3-7
  • Cm9 – R-7-38R×♭7♭3××R-7-3
  • Cm9 – R-7-3×R×♭7♭3×R-7-3

Keys that contain Cm9

Scales to play over Cm9

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

Other C chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Minor 9th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the Cm9 chord?
Cm9 (C minor 9th) contains C, E♭, G, B♭, D — formula 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9.
How do you play Cm9 on guitar?
A common shape is x30343 (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 Cm9?
Good choices to solo over Cm9: C Dorian, C Aeolian (Minor), C Dorian ♯4.
What key is Cm9 in?
Cm9 is diatonic in E♭ major (vi9), B♭ major (ii9), C minor (i9), G minor (iv9).