Chord chart for Cm7♭9 Guitar Chord (C minor 7th flat 9th): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

C minor 7th flat 9th guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 21 playable shapes

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C minor 7th flat 9th guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

C minor 7th flat 9th guitar chord

Cm7♭9 is the C minor 7th flat 9th guitar chord. It uses the notes C, E♭, G, B♭, and D♭ and the interval formula 1-♭3-5-♭7-♭9.

The C minor 7th flat 9th minor 7th flat 9th chord extends the minor 7th with a flat ninth D♭, creating a dark, eerie tension. The combination of the minor third E♭, minor seventh B♭, and flat ninth D♭ produces a dissonant, haunting sound perfect for jazz, film scoring, and dramatic resolutions.

Also written as Cmin7(♭9) and Cm7(♭9).

Root note: C
Quality: minor 7th flat 9th
Chord tones: 5
Playable shapes: 21

Chord tones

CE♭GB♭D♭

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape 868686

868686

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 6th fret of the 1st string, 3rd string, and 5th string in barre position.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string.
  5. 5 Strum from the 6th string down.

Shape 8a8889

8a8889

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string, 3rd string, 4th string, and 6th string in barre position.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the 1st string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string.
  4. 4 Strum from the 6th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

C Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

E♭ Minor Third ♭3

This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.

G Perfect Fifth 5

The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.

B♭ Minor Seventh ♭7

The minor seventh adds bluesy or jazzy tension that wants to move onward.

D♭ Minor Ninth ♭9

The flat ninth adds sharper tension and a more dramatic clash.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

C minor 7th flat 9th shape 868686

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 6th fret of the 1st string, 3rd string, and 5th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C minor 7th flat 9th shape 8a8889

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string, 3rd string, 4th string, and 6th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C minor 7th flat 9th shape 8ab8b8

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string, 3rd string, and 6th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 11th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C minor 7th flat 9th shape 8a88b9

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string, 4th string, and 6th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C minor 7th flat 9th shape 8aa8b9

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string and 6th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string and 5th string in barre position
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C minor 7th flat 9th shape xxa8b9

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

C minor 7th flat 9th shape 8ab8bb

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string and 6th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 11th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string and 2nd string in barre position
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C minor 7th flat 9th shape 8ab0bb

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 11th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string and 2nd string in barre position
  5. 5 Let the third string ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in Cm7♭9?

Cm7♭9 uses the notes C, E♭, G, B♭, and D♭. Its interval formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7-♭9.

What is another name for Cm7♭9?

Cm7♭9 is also written as Cmin7(♭9) and Cm7(♭9).

How do you play Cm7♭9 on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 6th fret of the 1st string, 3rd string, and 5th string in barre position. Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string. Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string. Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string. Strum from the 6th string down.

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