The Cadd9 Chord & When to Use It

The Cadd9 chord adds a jazzy sound to your playing while being surprisingly similar to the G major chord you already know. This chord appears in countless popular songs and creates beautiful progressions when combined with your existing chords (In the Key of G major and D major especially)

In this lesson:

• Cadd9 formation: simply moving two fingers from (a big) G major chord down one string each

• Understanding the "add9" theory: how we get the '9' and why this chord sounds so appealing

• Essential chord changes: Cadd9 to G major and Cadd9 to D major progressions

• Classic song applications: "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Sweet Child of Mine" progressions

• Four-finger technique: using your pinky alongside ring finger for the high strings

This chord often replaces regular C major in modern songs, giving you access to popular progressions while being easier to finger than the full C major chord. Practice the smooth transitions that make these changes sound professional.

Cadd9 Finger Positions and Strumming tip