Tools / Chords / F♯ major 9th

F♯ major 9th chord on guitar (F♯maj9)

Also written F♯maj9 or F♯

F♯ major 9th contains F♯, A♯, C♯, E♯, and G♯. The 1st fret shape is a full barre with a pinky stretch to fret 3.

1st fret2-1-3-1-2-1

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

F♯1Root

A♯3Major 3rd

C♯5Perfect 5th

E♯7Major 7th

G♯99th

Formula 1, 3, 5, 7, 9

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

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

Root positionF♯–A♯–C♯–E♯–G♯F♯maj9Bass F♯

First inversionA♯–C♯–E♯–G♯–F♯F♯maj9/A♯Bass A♯

Second inversionC♯–E♯–G♯–F♯–A♯F♯maj9/C♯Bass C♯

Third inversionE♯–G♯–F♯–A♯–C♯F♯maj9/E♯Bass E♯

Fourth inversionG♯–F♯–A♯–C♯–E♯F♯maj9/G♯Bass G♯

Why it sounds like that

F♯ major 9th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. The major seventh interval gives it its characteristic lush sound. Compared with F♯ major 7th, the added ninth creates a more open, colorful voicing.

What goes wrong with F♯ major 9th?

The 3rd string buzzes because the index barre is not pressing hard enough.
The pinky on the 4th string accidentally mutes the 3rd string.
The high e string is deadened by the barre sliding out of place.

When to use it

F♯ major 9th works as the tonic in F♯ major, such as in the I–IV–V–I progression F♯–B–C♯–F♯. It also fits the I–V–vi–IV progression F♯–C♯–D♯ minor–B. Use it in jazz, fusion, and progressive rock for a bright, extended harmony.

Changing to and from F♯ major 9th

Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives G major 9th.
From F♯ major, lift the pinky and add the barre to reach F♯ major 9th.

Which voicing to use

The 1st fret shape has F♯ in the bass and is the most balanced voicing. The F♯maj9/B♭ inversion at the 1st fret puts A♯ in the bass, giving a lighter, more suspended feel. For a higher register, use the 13th fret shape.

How do you play an F♯ major 9th chord on guitar?

1st fret

Barre● On the diagram

F♯ major 9th is played at the 1st fret as 2 1 3 1 2 1: barre your index finger across fret 1, middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3 and ring finger on the B string at fret 2.

Tip — The full barre at the 1st fret must hold the A string and high e cleanly while the pinky reaches fret 3.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	2	2	F♯ (1)
5 (A)	1	1 (barre)	A♯ (3)
4 (D)	3	4	E♯ (7)
3 (G)	1	1 (barre)	G♯ (9)
2 (B)	2	3	C♯ (5)
1 (e)	1	1 (barre)	E♯ (7)

13th fret

Barre

F♯ major 9th is played at the 13th fret as 14 13 15 13 14 13: barre your index finger across fret 13, middle finger on the low E string at fret 14, pinky finger on the D string at fret 15 and ring finger on the B string at fret 14.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	14	2	F♯ (1)
5 (A)	13	1 (barre)	A♯ (3)
4 (D)	15	4	E♯ (7)
3 (G)	13	1 (barre)	G♯ (9)
2 (B)	14	3	C♯ (5)
1 (e)	13	1 (barre)	E♯ (7)

F♯maj9/A♯ inversion · fret 1

Barre

F♯ major 9th is played at the 1st fret as × 1 3 1 2 2: barre your index finger across fret 1, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3, middle finger on the B string at fret 2 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	1	1 (barre)	A♯ (3)
4 (D)	3	4	E♯ (7)
3 (G)	1	1 (barre)	G♯ (9)
2 (B)	2	2	C♯ (5)
1 (e)	2	3	F♯ (1)

F♯maj9/A♯ inversion · fret 4

Barre

F♯ major 9th is played at the 4th fret as 6 4 4 6 6 4: barre your index finger across fret 4, middle finger on the low E string at fret 6, ring finger on the G string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 6.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	6	2	A♯ (3)
5 (A)	4	1 (barre)	C♯ (5)
4 (D)	4	1 (barre)	F♯ (1)
3 (G)	6	3	C♯ (5)
2 (B)	6	4	E♯ (7)
1 (e)	4	1 (barre)	G♯ (9)

F♯maj9/A♯ inversion · fret 6

Barre

F♯ major 9th is played at the 6th fret as 6 8 6 6 7 6: barre your index finger across fret 6, pinky finger on the A string at fret 8 and ring finger on the B string at fret 7.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	6	1 (barre)	A♯ (3)
5 (A)	8	4	E♯ (7)
4 (D)	6	1 (barre)	G♯ (9)
3 (G)	6	1 (barre)	C♯ (5)
2 (B)	7	3	F♯ (1)
1 (e)	6	1 (barre)	A♯ (3)

Common questions

How is F♯ major 9th written?

F♯ major 9th is written as F♯ or F♯maj9. The ASCII root spelling is F#. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

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

F♯ major 9th includes the major seventh (E♯), while F♯ add 9 does not. The add 9 chord is simply an F♯ major triad with the ninth added.

Can I play F♯ major 9th without the barre?

The 1st fret shape requires a barre, but you can play the F♯maj9/B♭ inversion at the 1st fret, which uses a partial barre. It omits the low E string.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F♯ (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

A♯ (3)

4 (D)

E♯ (7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

G♯ (9)

2 (B)

C♯ (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

E♯ (7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F♯ (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

A♯ (3)

4 (D)

E♯ (7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

G♯ (9)

2 (B)

C♯ (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

E♯ (7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

A♯ (3)

4 (D)

E♯ (7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

G♯ (9)

2 (B)

C♯ (5)

1 (e)

F♯ (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

A♯ (3)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C♯ (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F♯ (1)

3 (G)

C♯ (5)

2 (B)

E♯ (7)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

A♯ (3)

5 (A)

E♯ (7)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

G♯ (9)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

C♯ (5)

2 (B)

F♯ (1)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

A♯ (3)