Chord & FretCmaj9 on electric guitar
On the electric guitar a chord needs only a few clear notes — the amp sustains them and fills the space, so you mute the strings you are not playing and let the tone carry the rest. In this position the bass is C and the shape sits at fret 3, ringing 4 open strings. Plugged into an amp, each chord sustains for as long as you hold it, and the tone — clean or driven — shapes the whole sound.
Notes on C: C – E – G – B – DFormula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9In the formula, the numbers count steps of the major scale starting from the note that names the chord; "b" lowers a half step, "#" raises one — and a slash names the bass note.
Where to use it: Ballads, bossa nova and neo-soul love this chord to open or close a song. It is the natural pick when a plain maj7 feels too plain — the ninth adds an extra glow without disturbing the rest.
This is just one shape of Cmaj9 on electric guitar. In Chord & Fret, you hear every shape strummed string by string, in the instrument's own voice; open every variation on the neck, grouped by bass note; and set a capo — the diagrams redraw above it. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. 100% offline.
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