F#maj9 Piano Chord

F#maj9 is the F sharp major ninth chord, often written Gbmaj9. It has five notes: F sharp, A sharp, C sharp, F and G sharp, and it spans a ninth, so the root usually goes to the left hand.

F sharp at the bottom, then A sharp, C sharp, F and G sharp. Give the root to the left hand if the reach is too much; the top four notes fit one hand easily.

How to play F#maj9 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): F
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.

The seventh is strictly E sharp, but the key you press is the white F, one half step below the octave F sharp. Charts print F because that is what the hand actually finds.

If it sounds wrong

The stretch is too wide: Play F sharp with the left hand and A sharp, C sharp, F and G sharp with the right. Sharing a ninth chord between hands is the normal way to play it.
The seventh sounds wrong: The seventh is the white key F, directly below the octave F sharp. Pressing E instead gives the flat seventh, which turns the chord into the pushier F#9.
The chart says Gbmaj9: Same chord, same keys. G flat is the friendlier spelling of this key in print, and most charts use it. Nothing about the shape changes.

What makes it an F#maj9

F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · F · G♯ 1 3 5 7 9

F#maj9 is F#maj7 with a ninth added: F sharp, A sharp, C sharp and F make the major seventh chord, and the G sharp on top makes it a ninth. Strict spelling calls the seventh E sharp; the key under the finger is F.

It is the I chord of F sharp major at its softest. Written as G flat, this key is home ground for gospel and soul piano, which is where this chord earns its living.

F#maj9 vs F#maj7

F#maj9 is F#maj7 with a G sharp on top. The seventh chord rests; the ninth widens it and softens the edges further.

In the hand it is one extra note and a reach past the octave, so it is usually split between hands where the seventh chord is not.

Questions about F#maj9

Is F#maj9 the same as Gbmaj9?

Yes, one chord with two names, and Gbmaj9 is the spelling most charts prefer. The keys you press are identical.

Which notes are in an F#maj9 chord on piano?

F sharp, A sharp, C sharp and G sharp on the black keys, plus the white F, which stands in for E sharp.

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

The seventh. F#9 has E natural and pushes toward B; F#maj9 has the F a half step under the octave and stays put.

Why are there no inversions on this page?

The chord is wider than an octave, so lifting the bass note an octave lands it inside the chord rather than on top. Pianists use rootless voicings for ninths instead, which is a later skill.

Do I have to play all five notes?

No. Leave out C sharp, the fifth. F sharp in the left hand with A sharp, F and G sharp in the right keeps the whole character.