C dominant ninth
C9 Piano Voicings
C9 extends C7 with a ninth, a brighter dominant colour heard constantly in blues, funk and bebop. The rootless voicing is the bread-and-butter left-hand shape.
Drill C9 in all 12 keysThe notes in C9
- C R
- E 3
- G 5
- Bb ♭7
- D 9
C9 voicings on piano
Each voicing is the exact shape the trainer drills. Press play to hear it — as a block chord or rolled note by note.
Root Position
C · E · G · Bb · D R · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
Shell Voicing
C · E · Bb R · 3 · ♭7
Rootless A
E · G · Bb · D 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
Rootless B
Bb · D · E · G ♭7 · 9 · 3 · 5
Where C9 fits in a ii-V-I
C9 extends C7 with a ninth, a brighter dominant colour heard constantly in blues, funk and bebop. The rootless voicing is the bread-and-butter left-hand shape.
The fastest way to internalise C9 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.
Practice the full ii-V-I progressionC9 — frequently asked questions
What notes are in C9?
C9 contains C, E, G, B♭ and D — root, third, fifth, flat seventh and ninth.
What is the rootless A voicing for C9?
C9 rootless A is E, G, B♭, D — third, fifth, flat seventh and ninth. It is one of the most-used left-hand dominant voicings in jazz.