Tools / Chords / C♯ add 9

C♯ add 9 chord on guitar (C♯add9)

Also written C♯add9, C♯ or C♯ Add 9th

C♯ add 9 is built from C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯. The default grip at the 9th fret is an advanced stretch with the 9th on the high E string.

9th fret×-×-11-10-9-11

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

C♯1Root

E♯3Major 3rd

G♯5Perfect 5th

D♯99th

Formula 1, 3, 5, 9

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionC♯–E♯–G♯–D♯C♯add9Bass C♯

First inversionE♯–G♯–D♯–C♯C♯add9/E♯Bass E♯

Second inversionG♯–D♯–C♯–E♯C♯add9/G♯Bass G♯

Third inversionD♯–C♯–E♯–G♯C♯add9/D♯Bass D♯

Why it sounds like that

C♯ add 9 adds a major 2nd (D♯) to a C♯ major triad. The D♯ gives the chord a luminous, open quality. Compare it to C♯ major, which lacks the 9th.

What goes wrong with C♯ add 9?

Letting the low E or A string ring out, adding notes outside the chord.
Buzzing the D string because the ring finger is too far from the fret.
Flattening the pinky so it mutes the high E string.

When to use it

C♯ add 9 is the tonic in C♯ major, fitting progressions like C♯–F♯–G♯–C♯ (I–IV–V–I). It suits bright jazz and fusion lines. Use it to replace C♯ major for a more colorful tonic.

Changing to and from C♯ add 9

Move to C♯ major by lifting the pinky and keeping the other three fingers in place.
Slide the shape down two frets to the 7th fret to play B add 9.

Which voicing to use

The 9th fret position keeps C♯ in the bass for a root-position sound. The C♯add9/F inversion at the 1st fret puts the major 3rd (E♯) in the bass, giving a darker, more compact voicing. The C♯add9/F inversion at the 13th fret is higher and brighter.

How do you play a C♯ add 9 chord on guitar?

9th fret

Intermediate● On the diagram

C♯ add 9 is played at the 9th fret as × × 11 10 9 11: ring finger on the D string at fret 11, middle finger on the G string at fret 10, index finger on the B string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 11. The low E and A strings stay muted.

Tip — The pinky must stretch to the 11th fret on the high E while the index holds the 9th fret on the B string, a two-fret span.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	11	3	C♯ (1)
3 (G)	10	2	E♯ (3)
2 (B)	9	1	G♯ (5)
1 (e)	11	4	D♯ (9)

C♯add9/E♯ inversion · fret 1

Barre

C♯ add 9 is played at the 1st fret as 1 × 1 1 2 1: barre your index finger across fret 1 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 2. The A string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	1	1 (barre)	E♯ (3)
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	1	1 (barre)	D♯ (9)
3 (G)	1	1 (barre)	G♯ (5)
2 (B)	2	4	C♯ (1)
1 (e)	1	1 (barre)	E♯ (3)

C♯add9/E♯ inversion · fret 8

Intermediate

C♯ add 9 is played at the 8th fret as × 8 × 8 9 9: index finger on the A string at fret 8, middle finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the B string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 9. The low E and D strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	8	1	E♯ (3)
4 (D)	muted	—	—
3 (G)	8	2	D♯ (9)
2 (B)	9	3	G♯ (5)
1 (e)	9	4	C♯ (1)

C♯add9/E♯ inversion · fret 11

Barre

C♯ add 9 is played at the 11th fret as 13 11 11 13 × 11: barre your index finger across fret 11, ring finger on the low E string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 13. The B string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	13	3	E♯ (3)
5 (A)	11	1 (barre)	G♯ (5)
4 (D)	11	1 (barre)	C♯ (1)
3 (G)	13	4	G♯ (5)
2 (B)	muted	—	—
1 (e)	11	1 (barre)	D♯ (9)

C♯add9/E♯ inversion · fret 13

Barre

C♯ add 9 is played at the 13th fret as 13 × 13 13 14 13: barre your index finger across fret 13 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 14. The A string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	13	1 (barre)	E♯ (3)
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	13	1 (barre)	D♯ (9)
3 (G)	13	1 (barre)	G♯ (5)
2 (B)	14	4	C♯ (1)
1 (e)	13	1 (barre)	E♯ (3)

Common questions

How is C♯ add 9 written?

C♯ add 9 is written as C♯add9 or C♯. On a keyboard, use C#add9 or C#. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

What is the difference between C♯ add 9 and C♯ major 7th?

C♯ add 9 contains the 9th (D♯) but no 7th, while C♯ major 7th contains the major 7th (B♯) but no 9th. C♯ add 9 has a more open, suspended quality.

Can I play C♯ add 9 with a barre?

The default 9th fret shape uses no barre, but the C♯add9/F inversion at the 13th fret uses a barre at the 13th fret. That voicing is higher and requires more finger strength.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

C♯ (1)

3 (G)

E♯ (3)

2 (B)

G♯ (5)

1 (e)

D♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

E♯ (3)

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

1 (barre)

D♯ (9)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

G♯ (5)

2 (B)

C♯ (1)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

E♯ (3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

E♯ (3)

4 (D)

muted

—

3 (G)

D♯ (9)

2 (B)

G♯ (5)

1 (e)

C♯ (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

E♯ (3)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

G♯ (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

C♯ (1)

3 (G)

G♯ (5)

2 (B)

muted

—

1 (e)

1 (barre)

D♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

E♯ (3)

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

1 (barre)

D♯ (9)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

G♯ (5)

2 (B)

C♯ (1)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

E♯ (3)