C9 chord on piano

C dominant 9th: C · E · G · B♭ · D. It sounds the funk and soul workhorse: a dominant 7th wearing colour.

On the keyboard

Fingering

Right hand, root position: C — finger 1 · E — finger 2 · G — finger 3 · B♭ — finger 4 · D — finger 5. (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger.)

Inversions

The same notes in a different order. Inversions are how players move between chords without jumping:

• RootC – E – G – B♭ – D
• 1stE – G – B♭ – D – C
• 2ndG – B♭ – D – C – E
• 3rdB♭ – D – C – E – G
• 4rdD – C – E – G – B♭

C chords of every quality

Every dominant 9th chord

All piano chords →