C madd9 Chord

C minor add nine is a Minor chord family sound built from the notes C, E-flat, G, and D. Its root is C, and its interval number formula is 1-♭3-5-9. Those intervals are called the root, minor third, perfect fifth, and major ninth. You may also see this chord written as C minor add 9, C min add 9, or abbreviated as Cm(add9). If you look at the widget above, you can see and hear how the added ninth gives a basic C minor chord an extra color without changing its minor quality.

C madd9 Chord Notes

C madd9 Chord Formula

Because of its minor third, this chord has the darker and more emotional character people often associate with minor harmony, but the added ninth gives it a more open, expressive, and slightly dreamy sound. It can work well in ballads, pop, rock, jazz, film music, and atmospheric styles when you want a chord that feels sad yet refined. In a progression, C minor add nine can sound gentle, mysterious, intimate, or even hopeful depending on the chords around it. For example, surrounding it with other minor chords may make it feel more somber, while placing it near brighter major chords can make the added ninth stand out as a beautiful point of tension and release.

C madd9 Chord Notation

C madd9 Alternate Names

C minor add nine, C minor add 9, C min add 9, Cm(add9), Cadd9(no3) minor variant

Another useful way to hear this chord is through its inversions, which use the same notes but place a different note in the bass. In root position, the notes are C-E-flat-G-D. The first inversion places E-flat in the bass, the second inversion places G in the bass, and another voicing can place D in the bass for a more floating sound. Inversions do not change the chord’s identity, but they do change its weight and color. A root-position shape usually sounds most stable, while inversions can sound softer, smoother, or more suspended, which is why musicians use them to connect chords more gracefully and shape the mood of a progression.