C#9 Guitar Chord

C#9 is the C sharp dominant ninth chord. It has five notes on paper: C sharp, F, G sharp, B and D sharp. The standard shape uses four strings and leaves out the G sharp, the fifth.

2134×C♯FBD♯×

Root on the A string at the 4th fret, no barre. Four strings carrying the root, third, flat seventh and ninth; the fifth is left out, which no ear misses in a ninth chord.

How to play C#9, step by step

  1. Index finger: 3rd fret, D string
  2. Middle finger: 4th fret, A string
  3. Ring finger: 4th fret, G string
  4. Pinky finger: 4th fret, B string
  5. Strum only the A and D and G and B strings, and stop the downstroke at the B.

The same four string grip covers every dominant ninth. Slide it down one fret for C9 or up one for D9 without changing the hand.

More ways to play C#9

There are 2 common C#9 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Barre at fret 9
C#9 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 9, played 9 x 9 10 9 11

Full and low, with the ninth ringing on the top string over a heavy root. This is the shape that sounds like a horn section.

If it sounds cluttered

The low E rings
It is not in the shape. Mute it with the index fingertip or start the strum at the A string.
The high E rings
Four strings only. Rest the pinky against the high E and stop the strum at the B.
The notes are uneven
Three fingers sit at the 4th fret and one at the 3rd. Play the four strings one at a time and check each one speaks before strumming.

What makes it a C#9

C♯ · F · G♯ · B · D♯ 1 3 5 ♭7 9

C#9 is a C#7 chord with a ninth added: C sharp, F, G sharp and B make the seventh chord, and the D sharp on top makes it a ninth. Written strictly the third would be E sharp, but chord charts print F.

It is the V chord of F sharp and the I chord of a blues in C sharp. Ninth chords keep the pull of a dominant seventh and add colour, which is why they are standard in funk and soul.

C#9 vs C#7

C#9 is C#7 with a D sharp added. Both push toward F sharp; the ninth simply sounds smoother doing it.

In this key there is no easy open shape for either chord, so both are movable grips. The ninth is the one that sounds like an arrangement rather than a placeholder.

C#9 chord questions

Is C#9 the same as Db9?

Yes, the same chord. Guitar charts usually write C#9, so that is the spelling used here.

Why is the fifth missing?

Five notes will not fit under four fingers on four strings. The fifth contributes least, so it is the note left out.

Is C#9 the same as C#7?

No. C#9 adds the ninth on top of C#7. They do the same job in a progression and sound different.

Where is C#9 used?

As the V chord in F sharp, as the I chord of a blues in C sharp, and in funk and soul rhythm parts.

Which strings do I strum?

The A, D, G and B strings. Keep both E strings quiet.

Chords to learn next

Other C# chords