Explore the C#7(#9) Guitar Chord with Interactive Practice
Spell C#7#9, or C# seventh sharp nine, from C# and you get C#, E#, G#, B and D##: a root, a major third, a perfect fifth, a minor seventh and a sharp ninth. It stacks a major third and a sharp ninth (D##) on the same root, a clash of major and minor that gives the chord its raw, bluesy edge.
Three voicings in total, from fret 3 to fret 12, and two of them are barre shapes. Try the C# Half-Whole scale next. It is the eight-note scale built from alternating half steps and whole steps and it contains all five chord tones, so it fits the chord from start to finish.
Hear C#7#9 as a strum and as an arpeggio on the interactive fretboard at the top, one string at a time.
C# 7th with sharp 9th guitar chord is also written as C#7(#9), C#7#9 or C#7+9. It is also known as the Hendrix chord.
C# 7(#9) chord Notes:
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 3 of the D string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 4 of the A string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 4 of the G string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the B string
Position 2 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the high E string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the A string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the low E string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 9 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 9 of the low E, D and B strings at the same time
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 10 of the G string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 11 of the A string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 12 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 are in C#7#9?
C#, E#, G#, B and D##. The first four notes form a C# seventh chord, and D## is the sharp ninth. The E# is the major third and sounds the same as F.
What does the #9 in C#7#9 mean?
It is the ninth degree raised by a half step. On C# that note is D##, which sounds like E, the same pitch as a minor third, so the chord holds a major third and a minor-sounding third together.
Why is the sharp ninth of C#7#9 spelled D## rather than E?
The letter E is already used by the third, E#. Naming the ninth D## keeps every chord tone on its own letter in the stacked-thirds order.
Is C#7#9 the same as Db7#9?
They sound the same. Db7#9 is spelled Db, F, Ab, Cb and E, while C#7#9 uses C#, E#, G#, B and D##. The sharp spelling suits sharp keys and the flat spelling suits flat keys.
How many ways are there to play C#7#9?
Three voicings are listed, from the third fret to the twelfth fret. Two of them are barre voicings, and none of them uses open strings.
