The C♭ Major 9th chord is a five-note chord made up of C♭, E♭, G♭, B♭, and D♭. It is built from a root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh, and major ninth.
Construction
C♭ Major 9th = Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 7th + Major 2nd = C♭ · E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · D♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| C♭ | Root | 1 |
| E♭ | Major 3rd | 3 |
| G♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| B♭ | Major 7th | 7 |
| D♭ | Major 2nd | 9 |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the C♭ Major 9th is the tonic (I) chord of Cb Major, whose key signature has 7 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭).
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of C♭ Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the C♭ major scale:
C♭ Major 9th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the C♭ Major 9th chord on piano?
The C♭ Major 9th chord contains the notes C♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – D♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Cb Major 9th chord?
The Cb Major 9th chord (Cbmaj9) contains five notes: Cb (root), Eb (major third), Gb (perfect fifth), Bb (major seventh), and Db (major ninth). Enharmonic equivalent of Bmaj9.
How does Cbmaj9 differ from Cb9?
Cbmaj9 has a major seventh (Bb). Cb9 has a minor seventh. In practice, Bmaj9/B9 are preferred.
How is Cbmaj9 used in music?
Cbmaj9 is the enharmonic equivalent of Bmaj9. Musicians use Bmaj9 in practice.
What songs use Major 9th chords?
Major 9th chords appear in neo-soul, jazz, and lo-fi. The sound is identical regardless of spelling.
How does Cbmaj9 differ from Cbadd9?
Cbmaj9 includes the major seventh (Bb). Cbadd9 has no seventh.
Do I need to play all five notes?
No — drop the fifth for a cleaner voicing.