C♯add9 chord
C♯add9 is C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯: 1–3–5–9 built on C♯. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
x-4-3-1-4-x · movable · medium
- Notes
- C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
- First shape
- x-4-3-1-4-x
C♯add9 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · C♯–E♯–G♯–D♯ · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
C♯add9 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-3-1-4 · movable · medium
- Notes
- C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
- First shape
- 1-3-1-4
Where C♯add9 usually goes next
Three changes cover most of what C♯add9 does in songs.
- C♯add9 → F♯ (IV in D♭ major)
Guitar: C♯add9 (x-4-3-1-4-x) 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, the middle finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, your pinky finger lands on the D string, 4th fret. Shared note: C♯.
Piano: C♯add9 to F♯: play F♯ in 2nd inversion (C♯–F♯–A♯) and C♯ stays under the same finger, while E♯ moves up to F♯ and G♯ up to A♯. F♯ - C♯add9 → A♭ (V in D♭ major)
Guitar: C♯add9 (x-4-3-1-4-x) to A♭ (4-6-6-5-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 5th fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 6th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. The two chords share G♯ and D♯, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: C♯add9 to A♭: play A♭ in root position (A♭–C–E♭) and A♭ and E♭ stay under the same fingers, while E♯ moves up to C. A♭ - C♯add9 → B♭m (vi in D♭ major)
Guitar: C♯add9 (x-4-3-1-4-x) to B♭m (x-1-3-3-2-1): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the B string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the D string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. C♯ and E♯ carry over from one chord to the other.
Piano: C♯add9 to B♭m: play B♭m in 1st inversion (D♭–F–B♭) and D♭ and F stay under the same fingers, while G♯ moves up to B♭. B♭m
Guitar with a capo: capo 1, Cadd9 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 1, Cadd9 shape.
How C♯add9 is built
C♯add9 is C♯ major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. It keeps the bright major sound and adds a shimmer; guitarists love it because the open shapes ring.
From C♯, go 4 half steps up to E♯, 3 half steps up to G♯ then 7 half steps up to D♯. You may also see it as D♭add9: same keys, same frets.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| C♯ | root | 0 | |
| E♯ | major third | 4 | |
| G♯ | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| D♯ | ninth | 14 |
Keys and progressions with C♯add9
No major or natural minor key contains C♯add9 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
Chords close to C♯add9
Chords that share most of their notes with C♯add9: C♯9, C♯, C♯sus2, A♭sus4, C♯7, C♯maj7.
Every C♯ chord
C♯add9 chord: questions
What notes are in the C♯add9 chord?
C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯. C♯add9 is built 1–3–5–9 from C♯: E♯ is the major third, G♯ is the perfect fifth and D♯ is the ninth.
How do you play C♯add9 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-4-3-1-4-x (movable). All 3 guitar shapes.
How do you play C♯add9 on piano?
Play C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯ with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. C♯ sits on the black key between C and D. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play C♯add9 on ukulele?
1-3-1-4 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is C♯add9 in?
No major or natural minor key contains C♯add9 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
What's the difference between C♯add9 and C♯?
C♯add9 is C♯ plus D♯.
All three instruments are drawn and played from C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯ by the same engine. Updated September 2026.