The Cadd9 guitar chord is a major chord with a decorative extra note added. It also contains a color note (sometimes known as an extension note), which is the 9th note in the C major scale, in addition to the C major chord it represents. This chord can be used in any genre, whether rock, country, pop, or something in between, thanks to the additional note. The end result is a chord that may be plugged into any music and enhance its emotional impact.
What Notes Make up the Cadd9 Chord?
The Cadd9 chord is a C chord with a 9th note added, as its name suggests. There are four notes in it:
To hear the added punch that the ninth note provides, try playing a C chord before playing a C9 chord.
Deconstruct both a C chord and the Cadd9 chord, playing each in its arpeggio form. This involves playing each note of a chord separately as part of a pattern rather than blending all of the notes together, to hear how a ninth note provides a different dimension. You’ll hear how a series of sounds feels different when one new note is added to the mix.
Finger Positioning to Play the Cadd9 Chord in Open Position
Because it’s simple to learn and has a unique sound, the Cadd9 chord is a fantastic choice for beginners. The open position is one of the most popular ways to play the Cadd9 chord.
Start by positioning your index finger on the D string’s second fret. Put your ring finger on the third fret of the B string after that, and then your middle finger on the third fret of the A string. Last but not least, put your pinky finger on the high E string’s third fret. All of your strings, excluding the low E, should be strummed.
This is how it appears:
- – Index finger: D (4th) string, 2nd fret
- – Middle finger: A (5th) string, third fret
- – Ring finger: B (2nd) string’s third fret
- – Pinky finger: E (1st) string, third fret
Learn to Play Songs with the Cadd9 Chord
It’s time to listen for the Cadd9 chord in songs from other genres now that you know how to strum it and have experimented a little with it in its arpeggio form. This adaptable chord can be heard in soothing neo-folk to electric rock. Here are some tunes and musical categories where the Cadd9 chord is used.
Rock Songs
Ziggy Stardust, a hallmark song by Davie Bowies, weaves the Cadd9 chord into this story of an extraterrestrial rock hero. Ziggy Stardust has a reputation as the glam rock genre’s king of theatrics and a talent for breaking down barriers across genres and preconceptions. The chord is prominently included in the song’s beginning and serves as a refrain throughout the song. Mick Ronson’s 70s glam strumming drives the song forward.
With their big 1990s hit Wonderwall, Oasis and the Gallagher brothers showcased Cadd9’s full beauty, passing the torch from one British classic to a few others. The way the song develops to its frantic end is evidence of the chord’s adaptability.
The Edge, a renowned guitar player, incorporates the Cadd9 chord into U2’s Where the Streets Have No Name. This C major chord variation uses his distinctive loop and delay guitar sound to add some more color and a catchy melody.
Grunge is another genre that benefits greatly from the Cadd9 chord, as Stone Temple Pilots’ song Plush demonstrates.
Country Songs
Florida Georgia Lines This Is How We Roll displays the entire spectrum of the Cadd9 chord as it effortlessly crosses genres, fusing contemporary country with a pop flair.
Brad Paisley’s Last Time for Everything effortlessly introduces an 80s-inspired guitar riff powered by the Cadd9 chord into the country landscape. Paisley is no stranger to the guitar (particularly the telecaster).
How Forever Feels by Kenny Chesney sounds like a traditional country song with a fiddle and steel slide guitar. This homage to old country successfully conveys its cowboy roots thanks to the Cadd9 chord.
Pop Songs
In Ed Sheeran’s Perfect, the Cadd9 chord is employed to provide a languid, dreamy effect. Rich, warm guitar tones and delicate lyrics are used to generate a stunning song. In this charming song, the chord is very prominent, and the ninth note gives it a unique tone.
Additionally, The Cadd9 appears on Donna Lewis’ song I Love You Always Forever. Before its upbeat, trance-like muted guitar riff hooks listeners, the song gives a lengthy ambient build. This tune is a fantastic chance to practice strumming a Cadd9 chord in an acoustic environment.
Folk Songs
Want more acoustic justifications to play the Cadd9 chord? You can hear this adaptable chord bringing Alaskan folk-rock artist Jewel’s breakthrough smash from the 1990s, “You Were Meant for Me,” to life. The song is a fantastic illustration of how harmonics may be used to great effect to give an acoustic ballad an almost sparkling look.
Some could argue that the following song, “Good Riddance,” belongs squarely in the rock category, but no one anticipated it when the punk rock band Green Day managed to successfully remove the post-grunge distortion and power chords to offer this acoustic beauty (Time of Your Life). To help propel these jangly chord progressions that are graduation standards, pay attention to the Cadd9 chord. The song resembles nostalgic folk narrative much more than the anguished punk that defined Green Days’ early work.
Add other chords and approaches to your guitar toolbox now that you have a ton of tunes to put your knowledge of the Cadd9 chord to the test.