C♯9 chord

C♯9 is C♯, E♯, G♯, B and D♯: 1–3–5–♭7–9 built on C♯. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.

On guitar

x-4-1-4-2-1 · partial barre · medium

Notes: C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · B · D♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
First shape: x-4-1-4-2-1

C♯9 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger

On piano

root position · C♯–E♯–G♯–B–D♯ · right hand 1-2-3-4-5

Notes: C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · B · D♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9

C♯9 on piano: fingering and inversions

On ukulele

4-3-1-4 · movable · medium

Notes: C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · B · D♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
First shape: 4-3-1-4

C♯9 on ukulele: all shapes

Where C♯9 usually goes next

Here's what the hand does on the most common changes, on guitar and on piano.

C♯9 → F♯ (dominant, pulls to the chord a fifth below)
Guitar: C♯9 (x-4-1-4-2-1) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): your ring finger stays put, the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger slides across to the D string at the same fret. Listen for C♯, which stays put while the rest moves.
Piano: C♯9 to F♯: play F♯ in 2nd inversion (C♯–F♯–A♯) and C♯ stays under the same finger, while E♯ moves up to F♯ and B down to A♯. F♯
C♯9 → F♯maj7 (I in F♯ major)
Guitar: C♯9 (x-4-1-4-2-1) to F♯maj7 (2-4-3-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the G string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. C♯ and E♯ carry over from one chord to the other.
Piano: C♯9 to F♯maj7: play F♯maj7 in 2nd inversion (C♯–E♯–F♯–A♯) and C♯ and E♯ stay under the same fingers, while G♯ moves down to F♯ and B down to A♯. F♯maj7
C♯9 → E♭m7 (vi in F♯ major)
Guitar: C♯9 (x-4-1-4-2-1) to E♭m7 (x-x-1-3-2-2): your middle finger stays put, the index finger goes to the D string, 1st fret, your ring finger lands on the high E string, 2nd fret, move the pinky finger to the G string, 3rd fret. Shared notes: C♯ and D♯.
Piano: C♯9 to E♭m7: play E♭m7 in 1st inversion (G♭–B♭–D♭–E♭) and E♭ stays under the same finger, while E♯ moves up to G♭, B down to B♭ and B up to D♭. E♭m7

Guitar with a capo: capo 1, C9 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 1, C9 shape.

How C♯9 is built

C♯9 is a dominant ninth: C♯7 with the ninth on top. It has the pull of a seventh chord with a funkier, fuller color, and like C♯7 it leans toward F♯.

Count keys (black and white) from C♯: 4 half steps up to E♯, 3 half steps up to G♯, 3 half steps up to B then 4 half steps up to D♯. D♭9 is the other spelling of the same chord.

Note	Role	Half steps
C♯	root	0
E♯	major third	4
G♯	perfect fifth	7
B	minor seventh	10
D♯	ninth	14

Keys and progressions with C♯9

C♯9 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.

Chords close to C♯9

C♯9 is C♯7 plus D♯. C♯7

Chords that share most of their notes with C♯9: C♯7, C♯add9, Fm7♭5, G♯m6, C♯, C♯sus2.

Every C♯ chord

C♯9 chord: questions

What notes are in the C♯9 chord?

C♯, E♯, G♯, B and D♯. C♯9 is built 1–3–5–♭7–9 from C♯: E♯ is the major third, G♯ is the perfect fifth, B is the minor seventh and D♯ is the ninth.

How do you play C♯9 on guitar?

The usual shape is x-4-1-4-2-1 (partial barre). All 3 guitar shapes.

How do you play C♯9 on piano?

Play C♯, E♯, G♯, B and D♯ with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-4-5. C♯ sits on the black key between C and D. Inversions and left hand.

How do you play C♯9 on ukulele?

4-3-1-4 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.

What key is C♯9 in?

C♯9 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.

What's the difference between C♯9 and C♯7?

C♯9 is C♯7 plus D♯.

All three instruments are drawn and played from C♯, E♯, G♯, B and D♯ by the same engine. Updated September 2026.