Which strings do I strum for C add nine?

5 strings, from the A string down to the thin e. Skip the thick E string.

What notes are in a C add nine chord?

C, E, G, D. The C is the root, the note the chord is named after. The E makes it major.

What chords go with Cadd9?

Its neighbours on the circle of fifths, F and G, and its relative minor, Am. Songs move between these because they share notes.

add nine chord

C add nine chord on guitar

C with the two thin strings pressed at fret 3. Big, bright, and it changes to G almost for free.

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Where the fingers go

1
middle finger, A string, fret 3
Count from the thick string: E A.
2
index finger, D string, fret 2
Count from the thick string: E A D.
3
ring finger, B string, fret 3
Count from the thick string: E A D G B.
4
pinky, thin e string, fret 3
The thinnest string, nearest the floor.
5
Leave the G string open
They ring without any finger. They are part of the chord.
6
Strum 5 strings, from the A string down
Skip the thick E. It would add a note that does not belong.

The same shape seen along the neck, thin e on top. Numbers are fingers; 0 is an open string.

The notes in Cadd9

A chord is three or four notes played together. C add nine is built from these:

Note	Job in the chord	Where it is in this shape
C	root	A string, fret 3
E	major third	D string, fret 2
G	fifth	G string, open; thin e string, fret 3
D	ninth	B string, fret 3

The root, C, is the note it is named after. The second note decides the mood: a major third sounds bright, a minor third sounds sad. This chord sounds bright with a shimmer on top.

Where it sits on the circle of fifths

The circle of fifths lines up the twelve keys so that neighbours share the most notes. Chords next to each other on the circle sound good one after the other, which is why songs move between them.

F and G are Cadd9’s neighbours. Most songs in Cadd9 use one or both.
Am is its relative minor: the same notes, a different home. Swapping between them changes the mood without changing your hand much.

The mistake everyone makes

Watch out

The ring finger and pinky collapse

Both sit at fret 3 on the B and thin e strings. Keep them on their tips so they do not lean on each other.

Tip

Cadd9 to G

Keep the ring finger and pinky where they are. Move only the other two fingers and you have G.

Songs that use it

Pop and country in G. The chord that makes C and G sound like one movement.

None of the songs on the site use Cadd9 yet. It is coming with the next batch.

Questions people ask

Which strings do I strum for C add nine?: 5 strings, from the A string down to the thin e. Skip the thick E string.
What notes are in a C add nine chord?: C, E, G, D. The C is the root, the note the chord is named after. The E makes it major.
What chords go with Cadd9?: Its neighbours on the circle of fifths, F and G, and its relative minor, Am. Songs move between these because they share notes.