C#9(#5) Guitar Chords Explained | C# Dominant Ninth Sharp Fifth
C#9#5, the C# ninth sharp five chord, contains C#, E#, G##, B and D#. In jazz harmony the raised fifth is a common alteration of a dominant chord, and the ninth is a natural extension.
The notes E# and G## are theoretical spellings, which is why charts tend to write Db9#5 instead. Looking for a scale to play over it? The C# whole-tone scale contains all five notes of C#9#5, so every chord tone is available while you improvise.
Chords with a ninth on top are explained in our guide to ninth chords.
C# 9th with sharp 5th guitar chord is also written as C#9(#5), C#9#5, C#9+5 or C#aug9.
C# 9(#5) chord Notes:
Tones in the Dominant Ninth Sharp Fifth chord:
Formula: 1 3 #5 b7 9
C# 9(#5) Chord Interactive Fretboard
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
Which notes spell C# ninth sharp five?
The notes are C#, E#, G##, B and D#. That is the root, major third, raised fifth, minor seventh and ninth. The E# and G## are theoretical spellings of notes that sound like F and A.
Why does C#9#5 contain G## and E#?
Each chord tone keeps its own letter name. The major third of C# is E#, not F, and the raised fifth is G##, one semitone higher than the perfect fifth G#. They sound like F and A, but the letters follow the intervals.
Is C#9#5 the same chord as Db9#5?
They use the same pitches, so they sound identical. Db9#5 is spelled Db, F, A, Cb and Eb, which avoids double sharps. Which name appears on a chart depends on the key around it.
Which scale suits C#9#5?
The C# Whole-Tone Scale (C#, D#, E#, F##, G##, B) holds every chord tone, so improvising from C# stays inside the chord. The chord adds only a minor seventh and ninth to what the scale already offers.
