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C♯ major 9th chord on guitar (C♯maj9)
Also called or written C♯maj9 or C♯
C♯ major 9th contains C♯, E♯, G♯, B♯, and D♯. The 8th-fret barre shape requires precise intonation on the high strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
- Root positionC♯–E♯–G♯–B♯–D♯C♯maj99-8-10-8-9-8
- First inversionE♯–G♯–B♯–D♯–C♯C♯maj9/E♯1-3-1-1-2-1
- Second inversionG♯–B♯–D♯–C♯–E♯C♯maj9/G♯no shape on this instrument
- Third inversionB♯–D♯–C♯–E♯–G♯C♯maj9/B♯×-3-1-1-2-1
- Fourth inversionD♯–C♯–E♯–G♯–B♯C♯maj9/D♯×-6-6-6-6-8
How do you play a C♯ major 9th chord on guitar?
C♯ major 9th is played at the 8th fret as 9 8 10 8 9 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, middle finger on the low E string at fret 9, pinky finger on the D string at fret 10 and ring finger on the B string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9 | 2 | C♯ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 8 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 4 | B♯ (7) |
| 3 (G) | 8 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 1 (barre) | B♯ (7) |
AdvancedThe index barre must fret the A, G, and high e strings while the pinky stretches to fret 10 on the D string.
C♯maj9/E♯ inversion · fret 1
C♯ major 9th is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 1 1 2 1: barre your index finger across fret 1, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3 and ring finger on the B string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 4 | B♯ (7) |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
C♯maj9/E♯ inversion · fret 8
C♯ major 9th is played at the 8th fret as × 8 10 8 9 9: barre your index finger across fret 8, pinky finger on the D string at fret 10, middle finger on the B string at fret 9 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 9. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 8 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 4 | B♯ (7) |
| 3 (G) | 8 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 2 | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 9 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
C♯maj9/E♯ inversion · fret 11
C♯ major 9th is played at the 11th fret as 13 11 11 13 13 11: barre your index finger across fret 11, middle finger on the low E string at fret 13, ring finger on the G string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 13.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 2 | E♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 4 | B♯ (7) |
| 1 (e) | 11 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
C♯maj9/E♯ inversion · fret 13
C♯ major 9th is played at the 13th fret as 13 15 13 13 14 13: barre your index finger across fret 13, pinky finger on the A string at fret 15 and ring finger on the B string at fret 14.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 15 | 4 | B♯ (7) |
| 4 (D) | 13 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 14 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (e) | 13 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ major 9th is built from the 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 of the C♯ major scale. The major 7th B♯ and the 9th D♯ give it a sharp, brilliant edge. Compare it to C♯ major 7th, which lacks the 9th.
What goes wrong with C♯ major 9th?
- Letting the barre miss the high e string, losing the 9th.
- Flattening the pinky onto the 3rd string, deadening the 5th.
- Strumming too hard, causing the low E to overpower the root on the A string.
When to use it
C♯ major 9th functions as the I chord in C♯ major, fitting progressions like C♯–F♯–G♯–C♯ (I–IV–V–I). Its bright, cutting sound suits fusion, progressive rock, and modern jazz. It also works over C♯ major and C♯ major 7th.
Changing to and from C♯ major 9th
- Move to <a href="/guitar/b-major-9-chord">B major 9th</a> by sliding the shape down two frets to the 6th fret.
- Shift to <a href="/guitar/d-major-9-chord">D major 9th</a> by sliding the shape up one fret to the 9th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 8th-fret voicing keeps C♯ in the bass for a solid root position. The C♯maj9/F inversions place the third in the bass, creating a lighter, more open sound. The 1st-fret inversion uses a low barre for a compact, mid-register alternative.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ major 9th written?
C♯ major 9th is written C♯ or C♯maj9. The ASCII root is C#. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between C♯ major 9th and C♯ add 9?
C♯ major 9th includes the major 7th B♯ along with the 9th D♯. C♯ add 9 omits the 7th, giving a less dense sound.
Why does the 8th-fret shape use a barre?
The barre on the 8th fret covers the A, G, and high e strings, which are all chord tones. It allows the other fingers to reach the 9th and 10th frets.