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Using the 9th Chord (cont.)

Major 9th chords

When you include the Major 7th instead of the flat 7th, the chord is called a C Major 9th chord:

So, a Major 9th chord is simply a Major 7th chord with an added 9th. Let's listen to a Major 9th chord:

These two types of 9th chords have slightly different functions. Listen to a common usage of the C9 chord:

In this example, the strings play the C9 chord in bars 1 and 3. Both of these bars have an unresolved feeling to them because the chord is akin to a Dominant 7th chord that wants to resolve. We achieve that resolution in bars 2 and 4 when the strings play the F6 chord.

The C9 chord in bars 1 and 3 prepares the ear for the F6 chord in bars 2 and 4. Most often, a 9th chord is used in this fashion - to help us get to the Major chord (or, in this case, Major 6 chord), a 4th higher (or 5th lower). Therefore, just like the Dominant 7th chord, the 9th chord usually takes us to another chord.