Tools / Chords / C♯ add 9

C♯ add 9 chord on ukulele (C♯add9)

Also written C♯add9, C♯ or C♯ Add 9th

Ukulele · C♯add9/D♯ inversion

C♯ add 9 is built from C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯. The default voicing stretches the pinky to the 4th fret, so expect a wide hand span.

C♯add9/D♯ inversion1-3-1-4

Positions on the neck1 of 3

How it’s built

C♯1Root

E♯3Major 3rd

G♯5Perfect 5th

D♯99th

Formula 1, 3, 5, 9

Positions on the neck1 of 3

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 stacks a major 3rd, perfect 5th and major 2nd above the root. The major 2nd is the add 9 colour. Compare C♯ major, which omits that 9th.

What goes wrong with C♯ add 9?

Letting the pinky collapse mutes the A string at fret 4.
The ring finger on fret 3 of the C string can accidentally touch the E string, deadening it.
Strumming the open G string instead of fretting it at 1.

When to use it

C♯ add 9 works as a colour chord in C♯ major, such as the I–IV–V–I progression C♯–F♯–G♯–C♯. It suits bright, shimmering passages where the 9th adds sparkle without dissonance.

Changing to and from C♯ add 9

Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives D add 9.
Sliding the shape up two frets to the 3rd fret gives E♭ add 9.

Which voicing to use

The D♯ inversion at frets 1-3-1-4 puts the 9th in the bass, creating a suspended, airy feel. The E♯ inversion at frets 6-5-4-6 places the major 3rd lowest, giving a more grounded sound.

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

C♯add9/D♯ inversion

Intermediate● On the diagram

C♯ add 9 is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 1 4: index finger on the G string at fret 1, ring finger on the C string at fret 3, middle finger on the E string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 4.

Tip — The pinky must reach fret 4 on the A string while the index and middle hold fret 1 on adjacent strings.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	1	1	G♯ (5)
3 (C)	3	3	D♯ (9)
2 (E)	1	2	E♯ (3)
1 (A)	4	4	C♯ (1)

C♯add9/E♯ inversion

Intermediate

C♯ add 9 is played at the 4th fret as 6 5 4 6: ring finger on the G string at fret 6, middle finger on the C string at fret 5, index finger on the E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	6	3	C♯ (1)
3 (C)	5	2	E♯ (3)
2 (E)	4	1	G♯ (5)
1 (A)	6	4	D♯ (9)

C♯add9/G♯ inversion

Intermediate

C♯ add 9 is played at the 8th fret as 8 8 9 8: index finger on the G string at fret 8, middle finger on the C string at fret 8, pinky finger on the E string at fret 9 and ring finger on the A string at fret 8.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	8	1	D♯ (9)
3 (C)	8	2	G♯ (5)
2 (E)	9	4	C♯ (1)
1 (A)	8	3	E♯ (3)

Common questions

How is C♯ add 9 written?

C♯ add 9 is written C♯add9 or C♯. The ASCII root is C#, so you may also see C#add9. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

Why does C♯ add 9 use E♯ instead of F?

C♯ add 9 uses E♯ because it is the major 3rd of C♯. E♯ is the correct spelling in the key of C♯ major, which has seven sharps.

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

C♯ add 9 contains the 9th (D♯) but no 7th. C♯ major 7th contains the major 7th (B♯) but no 9th.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

G♯ (5)

3 (C)

D♯ (9)

2 (E)

E♯ (3)

1 (A)

C♯ (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

C♯ (1)

3 (C)

E♯ (3)

2 (E)

G♯ (5)

1 (A)

D♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

D♯ (9)

3 (C)

G♯ (5)

2 (E)

C♯ (1)

1 (A)

E♯ (3)