Also written F♯add9, F♯ or F♯ Add 9th
F♯ add 9 is built from F♯, A♯, C♯ and G♯. The default voicing clusters three fingers at the 1st fret, demanding precise placement.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
F♯ add 9 stacks a major 3rd, perfect 5th and major 2nd above the root. The major 2nd is the add 9 colour. Compare F♯ major, which omits that 9th.
F♯ add 9 works as a colour chord in F♯ major, such as the I–IV–V–I progression F♯–B–C♯–F♯. It suits bright, shimmering passages where the 9th adds sparkle without dissonance.
The C♯ inversion at frets 1-1-2-1 puts the 5th in the bass, giving a stable but less grounded sound. The A♯ inversion at frets 11-10-9-11 places the major 3rd lowest, creating a warmer feel.
F♯ add 9 is played at the 1st fret as 1 1 2 1: index finger on the G string at fret 1, middle finger on the C string at fret 1, pinky finger on the E string at fret 2 and ring finger on the A string at fret 1.
Tip — Three fingers must fret adjacent strings at the 1st fret without muting each other.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 | G♯ (9) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 3 | A♯ (3) |
F♯ add 9 is played at the 3rd fret as 3 6 4 4: index finger on the G string at fret 3, pinky finger on the C string at fret 6, middle finger on the E string at fret 4 and ring finger on the A string at fret 4.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | A♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 2 | G♯ (9) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
F♯ add 9 is played at the 9th fret as 11 10 9 11: ring finger on the G string at fret 11, middle finger on the C string at fret 10, index finger on the E string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 11.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 11 | 4 | G♯ (9) |
F♯ add 9 is written F♯add9 or F♯. The ASCII root is F#, so you may also see F#add9. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
F♯ add 9 uses A♯ because it is the major 3rd of F♯. A♯ is the correct spelling in the key of F♯ major, which has six sharps.
F♯ add 9 contains the 9th (G♯) but no 7th. F♯ major 7th contains the major 7th (E♯) but no 9th.