C#9 Ukulele Chord

C#9 is the C sharp dominant ninth chord. On ukulele it keeps four of its five notes: C sharp, F, B and D sharp, with the fifth left out. The standard shape uses all four fingers inside the first four frets.

All four fingers inside the first four frets: third on the E string at the 1st fret, ninth on the C, seventh on the G, root on the A at the 4th.

How to play C#9 on ukulele, step by step

Index finger: 1st fret, E string
Middle finger: 3rd fret, C string
Ring finger: 4th fret, G string
Pinky finger: 4th fret, A string
Strum all four strings.

The same grip slides: every string is fretted, so one fret lower it is C9 with a different fingering feel, and up the neck it names whatever root lands on the A string.

More ways to play C#9

There are 3 common C#9 shapes: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these further up the neck. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

C#9 ukulele chord diagram, frets 5 to 7, played 6576 — Frets 5 to 7

C#9 ukulele chord diagram, barre at fret 8, played 8 11 9 8 — Barre at fret 8

If the shape is not clean

The index note disappears: The index holds the E string at the 1st fret, the lightest press in the shape and the chord's third. Keep it on its very tip while the bigger fingers work above it.
Four fingers feel knotted: Set the index first at the 1st fret, then place middle, ring and pinky in that order. The shape untangles the moment the index stops moving.
The chord will not ring when moved: Nothing is open, so the grip slides whole. Ease the pressure, move, press again; each finger must land just behind its new fret.

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 and B carry the seventh chord and the D sharp is the ninth. A ukulele has four strings for those five notes, so the fifth, G sharp, is left out, the same note guitar ninth grips drop.

It is the V chord of F sharp. Charts in flat keys write the same chord as Db9, and horn players meet it constantly; on ukulele it appears where jazz and soul tunes pass through F sharp or G flat.

C#9 vs C#7

C#9 adds a D sharp on top of C#7. Both resolve toward F sharp, and the ninth is the smoother way there.

C#7 is a small barre on ukulele; C#9 spreads into four separate fingers. The seventh chord bites, the ninth glides, and arrangements pick by mood.

C#9 chord questions

Is C#9 the same as Db9?

Yes, one chord with two names. Guitar and ukulele charts usually write C sharp, piano and horn charts D flat; this site follows the fretted habit.

Why does the chord chart show an F instead of E sharp?

Strict spelling calls the third of C sharp E sharp, which is the same key as F. Chord charts print the plain name, and so does this page.

Why is there no G sharp in these shapes?

A ukulele has four strings and C#9 has five notes. The fifth adds the least to a ninth chord, so it is the note left out.

Is C#9 hard to play?

It needs all four fingers, but they sit in a compact block with no barre. Most players find it no harder than A9, which is the same grip lower down.

Where is C#9 used?

As the V chord in F sharp, in jazz and soul charts written in D flat, and in blues that sit a fret above the key of C.