How to Play Cadd9 on Piano
The C Add 9 chord sounds bright and open. It stacks 4 notes: C – E – G – D.
A plain major triad with a ninth added and no seventh. The gap where the seventh would be is what keeps it sounding clear rather than jazzy.
Notes in Cadd9
| Note | Interval | Finger |
|---|---|---|
| CC4 | Root | 1 |
| EE4 | Major 3rd | 2 |
| GG4 | Perfect 5th | 3 |
| DD5 | Major 9th | 5 |
How to Play
Right Hand
Place your thumb (finger 1) on C. Use finger 2 on E, finger 3 on G, and finger 5 on D.
Where it sits
Every note of this chord is a white key, which makes it one of the easier shapes to find without looking.
Press all 4 keys at the same time. Keep your wrist relaxed and your fingers curved. The blue dots on the piano below show exactly which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.