C#maj9 Guitar Chord

C#maj9 is the C sharp major ninth chord. It has five notes: C sharp, F, G sharp, C and D sharp. The main shape sits at the 4th fret with the root on the A string and a small barre across the top two strings.

Root on the A string at the 4th fret, with the ring finger laid across the top two strings and the pinky reaching the 5th fret of the G. All five notes on five strings.

How to play C#maj9, step by step

Index finger: 3rd fret, D string
Middle finger: 4th fret, A string
Ring finger: press flat across the B to high E strings at fret 4
Pinky finger: 5th fret, G string
Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

The A string names the chord: slide the whole grip down one fret for Cmaj9 or up two for Ebmaj9. The fingering never changes.

More ways to play C#maj9

There are 2 common C#maj9 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.

C#maj9 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 9, played 9 11 10 10 9 11 — Barre at fret 9

If notes drop out

The small barre catches only one string: The ring finger lays across the B and high E strings at the 4th fret. Flatten its last joint so both strings sit under the same firm surface.
The B string is muted: The pinky reaching the 5th fret of the G string is leaning over. Arch it and land on the tip so the strings beside it can ring.
The low E rings: It is not part of the chord. Strum from the A string down, or let the tip of the middle finger touch the low E to keep it quiet.

What makes it a C#maj9

C♯ · F · G♯ · C · D♯ 1 3 5 7 9

C#maj9 is a C#maj7 chord with a ninth added: C sharp, F, G sharp and C make the seventh chord, and the D sharp on top makes it a ninth. Spelled strictly, the third and seventh are E sharp and B sharp; the chart prints F and C, the same two keys.

It is the I chord of C sharp major at its softest. Seven sharps keep that key rare on guitar, so the chord more often appears written as Dbmaj9 in piano and horn charts, one sound with two names.

C#maj9 vs C#maj7

C#maj9 is C#maj7 with a D sharp added. The seventh already settles the chord; the ninth spreads it wider and softens the top.

Both grips keep the root on the A string in the same part of the neck, so the ninth costs a new fingering but not a new position.

C#maj9 chord questions

Is C#maj9 the same as Dbmaj9?

Yes, one chord with two names. Piano charts usually write D flat; guitarists tend to think in sharps, so C sharp is the spelling here.

Is the F in C#maj9 a mistake?

No. Strictly the third of C sharp is E sharp, which is the same key as F. Chord charts print F because that is the name on the fretboard; the sound is identical.

What is the difference between C#maj9 and C#9?

C#9 has a B natural, the flat seventh, and pulls toward F sharp. C#maj9 has a B sharp, written C, and stays put.

Is there a C#maj9 without a full barre?

The main shape at the 4th fret is it: the only barre is the ring finger across two strings. The six string barre does not arrive until the 9th fret.

Where is C#maj9 used?

As the I chord of C sharp or D flat major in jazz, soul and bossa nova, usually from a piano or horn chart.