F#9 Piano Chord

F#9 is the F sharp dominant ninth chord. It has five notes: F sharp, A sharp, C sharp, E and G sharp. It is wider than an octave, so most players put F sharp in the left hand and the rest in the right.

F♯ at the bottom, then A♯, C♯, E and G♯. Right hand 1-2-3-4-5 if it reaches; otherwise F♯ in the left hand and the other four notes in the right.

How to play F#9 on piano, step by step

Start on the F♯ above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
Thumb (1): F♯
Index finger (2): A♯
Middle finger (3): C♯
Ring finger (4): E
Little finger (5): G♯
That reach is wider than an octave, so most players split it: play F♯ with the left hand and the other notes with the right. If you keep it in one hand, leave out the fifth (C♯), the note the chord misses least.

Four black keys and one white: the shape sits almost entirely in the black row, which is comfortable once the hand settles into it.

If it sounds wrong

The reach is too wide: F sharp to G sharp is a ninth. Split the chord: F sharp in the left hand, A sharp, C sharp, E and G sharp in the right. That is the normal way to play it.
It sounds soft instead of bluesy: The seventh is E, the one white key in the chord. Raising it to F makes F#maj9, a soft chord with a different job.
Fingers slide off the black keys: Four of the five notes are black. Play near the front edge of the black keys and let the ring finger reach in for the white E.

What makes it an F#9

F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · E · G♯ 1 3 5 ♭7 9

F#9 is an F#7 chord with a G sharp added: F sharp, A sharp, C sharp and E make the seventh, and the G sharp a ninth above the root completes it.

F#9 is the V9 of B, the seventh chord blues, soul and funk actually play instead of the plain F#7. Jazz charts usually print it as Gb9; the spelling changes, the keys and the pull toward B do not.

F#9 vs F#7

F#9 is F#7 with a G sharp on top. Both pull toward B; the ninth is the rounder, more finished sound.

Play F#7 and add G sharp with the little finger. The chord keeps its pull and gains polish, which is why comping players voice the ninth by default.

Questions about F#9

Is F#9 the same as Gb9?

Yes, one chord with two names. Jazz charts usually write Gb9; the keys under your fingers are identical.

What is the difference between F#9 and F#add9?

The seventh. F#9 contains E; F#add9 is the plain F sharp major chord with a G sharp added and no seventh.

Why does this page show no inversions?

A ninth chord is wider than an octave, so lifting the bass note an octave lands it inside the chord rather than on top. Players thin ninths out instead, dropping the root or the fifth.

Can I leave a note out of F#9?

Yes. The fifth, C sharp, goes first. With the root covered elsewhere, the right hand can play just A sharp, C sharp, E and G sharp.

Where is the F#9 chord used?

As the V chord of B, and in the flat keys under its other name Gb9. Soul and gospel arrangements in sharp and flat keys alike lean on it.