Package leaflet · Information for the musician · Chord
C Six-Nine Chord (C6/9)
Warm, open and conclusive. A major triad with the sixth and ninth, avoiding the seventh: the classic jazz ending chord.
- C6/9
- 5 notes
- x30230
1Composition: what it contains
C – E – G – A – D
- Symbol
- C6/9
- Also written
- C6/9, C69, C6add9
- Formula
- 1 3 5 6 9
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | unison | 0 |
| 3 | E | major third | 4 |
| 5 | G | perfect fifth | 7 |
| 6 | A | major sixth | 9 |
| 9 | D | major ninth | 14 |
2Appearance: diagrams and sound
On the guitar
x30230open position
x32233fret 2
855555fret 5
877788fret 7
x-x-10-9-10-10fret 9On the ukulele
2203open position
5455fret 4
7987fret 7On the piano
On the staff
On bass and as an arpeggio
3Indications: what it is used for
A tonic major chord in jazz, bossa nova, funk, soul and gospel, often used as the final chord of a tune or in place of a major seventh on I. Its pentatonic content (1-2-3-5-6) makes it extremely consonant and lets the melody move freely. Guitarists use the four-string quartal shape on top strings; pianists use it in spread voicings. It can also replace a major triad on IV. Its quartal shape also makes it a favourite for planing, sliding the same voicing up and down.
4Dosage: how to practise it
On guitar, learn the shape rooted on the fifth string (with the ninth and sixth on the higher strings) and the shape rooted on the sixth string; practise moving them chromatically. On piano, play the root and fifth in the left hand with 3-6-9 in the right, and practise the voicing in all keys. Practise ii7–V7–I6/9 at 80–140 BPM. Five minutes daily. Try ending tunes on a 6/9 instead of a plain major chord and compare the effect. Practise the quartal guitar shape slid chromatically into the target chord.
5Warnings and common mistakes
Do not confuse 6/9 with a slash chord: the slash in '6/9' is part of the chord name, not a bass note. It has no seventh, so it is not a thirteenth chord. On guitar, the shape often omits the fifth, which is fine. Avoid placing the sixth and ninth in a low register where they sound muddy. If the melody holds the major seventh, choose maj7 or maj9 instead.
6Interactions with chords, scales and keys
Inversions
- Inversion 1 · C6/9/E · E – G – A – D – C
- Inversion 2 · C6/9/G · G – A – D – C – E
- Inversion 3 · C6/9/A · A – D – C – E – G
- Inversion 4 · C6/9/D · D – C – E – G – A
Scales to play over C6/9
7Other presentations available
The same chord from every note
C♯6/9 D6/9 E♭6/9 E6/9 F6/9 F♯6/9 G6/9 A♭6/9 A6/9 B♭6/9 B6/9
Other chords on C
C Cm Cdim Caug Csus2 Csus4 C5 C6 Cm6 C7 Cmaj7 Cm7 Cm7♭5 Cdim7 Cm(maj7) C7sus4 Cadd9 Cm(add9) C9 Cmaj9 Cm9 C11 Cm11 C13 C7♭9 C7♯9 C7♯5 C7♭5
Read this leaflet carefully before playing. Keep it near your instrument. Free to use, print and share for personal and educational use.