C♯add9 chord on piano
C♯add9 is C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯. C♯ sits on the black key between C and D. Tap Play, then slow it down.
root position · C♯–E♯–G♯–D♯ · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
How to play C♯add9 on piano
Count keys (black and white) from C♯: 4 half steps up to E♯, 3 half steps up to G♯ then 7 half steps up to D♯. Press the 4 keys together and that's C♯add9.
- Right hand: 1 on C♯, 2 on E♯, 3 on G♯ and 5 on D♯.
- Left hand: 5 on C♯, 3 on E♯, 2 on G♯ and 1 on D♯.
- On the keyboard it's black, white, black and black keys, the same pattern as A♭add9, so your hand shape carries over.
Two ways to voice C♯add9
- root position: C♯–E♯–G♯–D♯. Right hand 1-2-3-5.
- close voicing: C♯–D♯–E♯–G♯. Right hand 1-2-3-5.
The close voicing folds the ninth down next to the root, which fits under one hand; the spread voicing sounds wider.
Moving between C♯add9 and its neighbours
These are the changes you'll meet most often with C♯add9, using the first shape of each chord.
- F♯ (IV in D♭ major): 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♯ on piano
- A♭ (V in D♭ major): 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♭ on piano
- B♭m (vi in D♭ major): 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 on piano
C♯add9 is C♯ major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. C♯add9 keeps the major sound and adds sparkle, which makes it a drop-in replacement for C♯ in quiet passages. The one-by-one button above makes that quality easy to hear.
A short C♯add9 drill
Roll the chord up and back down, C♯, E♯, G♯, D♯, G♯, E♯, C♯, before playing it as a block.
The keys of C♯add9
C♯add9 is a add 9 chord, 1–3–5–9 from C♯. Root position, from the bottom: how C♯add9 is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| C♯ | black key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| E♯ | white key | RH 2 · LH 3 | major third |
| G♯ | black key | RH 3 · LH 2 | perfect fifth |
| D♯ | black key | RH 5 · LH 1 | ninth |
You may also see it as D♭add9; nothing changes on the piano.
Keys and progressions with C♯add9
C♯add9 on guitar and ukulele
Switching instruments? Try C♯add9 on ukulele or C♯add9 on guitar, or compare them on the C♯add9 chord page.
Next to try on piano
Other add 9 chords
C♯add9 on piano: questions
What notes are in C♯add9 on piano?
C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯: C♯ (black key), E♯ (white key), G♯ (black key) and D♯ (black key). Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1.
How do you play C♯add9 on piano?
Press C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯ together (3 black, 1 white). Right hand: 1 on C♯, 2 on E♯, 3 on G♯ and 5 on D♯.
What are the inversions of C♯add9?
C♯add9 is usually played in root position (C♯–E♯–G♯–D♯) or as a close voicing (C♯–D♯–E♯–G♯).
What does C♯add9 look like on the keyboard?
black, white, black and black keys, the same pattern as A♭add9, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Every shape above plays only C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.