Tools / Chords / F♯ minor 9th

F♯ minor 9th chord on guitar (F♯m9)

Also written F♯m9 or F♯

F♯ minor 9th contains F♯, A, C♯, E and G♯. The open position uses a mix of fretted and open strings, with the root on the low E string.

Open2-0-2-1-2-0

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

F♯1Root

A♭3Minor 3rd

C♯5Perfect 5th

E♭7Minor 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♯m9Bass F♯

First inversionA–C♯–E–G♯–F♯F♯m9/ABass A

Second inversionC♯–E–G♯–F♯–AF♯m9/C♯Bass C♯

Third inversionE–G♯–F♯–A–C♯F♯m9/EBass E

Fourth inversionG♯–F♯–A–C♯–EF♯m9/G♯Bass G♯

Why it sounds like that

F♯ minor 9th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9. The minor 3rd between F♯ and A gives the chord its minor quality, while the major 2nd from F♯ to G♯ adds the ninth. Compare it with F♯ minor 7th, which omits the ninth.

What goes wrong with F♯ minor 9th?

Let the pinky touch the 1st string, muting the open high e.
Flatten the ring finger onto the 3rd string, muting the G string.
Strum too hard, causing the open A string to overpower the root.

When to use it

F♯ minor 9th works as the vi chord in A major, as in the progression A–E–F♯ minor–D, the I–V–vi–IV. Use it in jazz or fusion for a smooth, dark color. It also substitutes for F♯ minor when you want the added ninth.

Changing to and from F♯ minor 9th

From F♯ minor 9th to F♯ minor 7th, lift the pinky and play the 2nd string open; the other fingers stay put.
Sliding the 2nd-fret barre shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives G minor 9th.

Which voicing to use

The open position keeps F♯ in the bass for a root-position sound. The F♯m9/A inversion at the 1st fret puts the minor 3rd in the bass, softening the chord. Choose the F♯m9/E inversion at the 1st fret when you want the ♭7 in the bass for a more suspended feel.

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

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

F♯ minor 9th is played in open position as 2 0 2 1 2 0: middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, ring finger on the D string at fret 2, index finger on the G string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 2. The A and high e strings ring open.

Tip — The open position requires the pinky to fret the 2nd string at the 2nd fret while the 1st string rings open, which can cause accidental muting.

String-by-string breakdown

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

2nd fret

Barre

F♯ minor 9th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 4 2 2 2 4: barre your index finger across fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 4.

String-by-string breakdown

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

F♯m9/A inversion · open position

Beginner

F♯ minor 9th is played in open position as × 0 2 1 2 2: middle finger on the D string at fret 2, index finger on the G string at fret 1, ring finger on the B string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 2. The A string rings open. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

F♯m9/A inversion · fret 4

Barre

F♯ minor 9th is played at the 4th fret as 5 4 4 6 5 4: barre your index finger across fret 4, middle finger on the low E string at fret 5, pinky finger on the G string at fret 6 and ring finger on the B string at fret 5.

String-by-string breakdown

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

F♯m9/E inversion

Beginner

F♯ minor 9th is played in open position as 0 0 2 1 2 2: middle finger on the D string at fret 2, index finger on the G string at fret 1, ring finger on the B string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 2. The low E and A strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Common questions

How is F♯ minor 9th written?

F♯ minor 9th is written F♯m9 or F♯. The ASCII root is F#, so you can type F#m9. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

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

F♯ minor 9th includes the ♭7 (E), while F♯ minor add 9 omits the ♭7. The add 9 chord has a more open, less jazzy sound.

Can F♯ minor 9th be played without the pinky stretch?

Yes, the F♯m9/A inversion at the 1st fret uses a barre and omits the low E string, reducing the stretch.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F♯ (1)

5 (A)

open

—

A (♭3)

4 (D)

E (♭7)

3 (G)

G♯ (9)

2 (B)

C♯ (5)

1 (e)

open

—

E (♭7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

F♯ (1)

5 (A)

C♯ (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E (♭7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

A (♭3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

C♯ (5)

1 (e)

G♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

open

—

A (♭3)

4 (D)

E (♭7)

3 (G)

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)

open

—

E (♭7)

5 (A)

open

—

A (♭3)

4 (D)

E (♭7)

3 (G)

G♯ (9)

2 (B)

C♯ (5)

1 (e)

F♯ (1)