Practice the C7#9 Chord on Guitar
The raised ninth is what sets C7#9 (C seventh sharp nine) apart: the notes are C, E, G, Bb and D#, a dominant seventh with a D# added. That D# sits a half step below the major third, so the two notes crowd each other.
Between fret 2 and fret 11, this page holds three voicings, and none of them uses an open string. The C Half-Whole scale, the eight-note scale built from alternating half steps and whole steps, lines up with C7#9, because it contains all five chord tones.
Strum the shape in front of your microphone and the chord player at the top shows which strings ring and which are muted.
C 7th with sharp 9th guitar chord is also written as C7(#9), C7#9 or C7+9. It is also known as the Hendrix chord.
Notes of the C 7(#9) chord:
Chord Structure:
Formula: 1 3 5 b7 #9
C 7(#9) Chord Interactive Fretboard
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C 7(#9) Guitar Chord Diagrams
Position 1 Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the high E string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 2 of the D string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the A string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the G string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 4 of the B string
Position 2 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the high E string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 7 of the A string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 8 of the low E string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 8 of the D, G and B strings at the same time
Position 3 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the low E, D and B strings at the same time
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the G string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 10 of the A string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 11 of the high E string
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What notes does C7#9 contain?
C, E, G, Bb and D#. The first four form a C seventh chord, and D# is the sharp ninth, which sounds like Eb.
What does the #9 in C7#9 mean?
It is the ninth degree, D, raised by a half step to D#. That note sounds like Eb, a minor third from C, so it sits close to the major third E.
Which scale suits the C seventh sharp nine chord?
The C Half-Whole scale, spelled C, Db, D#, E, F#, G, A and Bb, contains all five chord tones. Its eight notes alternate half steps and whole steps.
How many voicings does C7#9 have?
Three voicings are listed, from the second fret to the eleventh fret. Two of them are barre voicings, and none uses open strings.
Where does C7#9 tend to resolve?
As a dominant seventh chord, C7#9 tends to resolve up a fourth, to F. Dominant chords with a sharp nine are often heard in blues and jazz.
