C♯9 chord on guitar

C♯9 is C♯, E♯, G♯, B and D♯. The usual shape is x-4-1-4-2-1. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

x-4-1-4-2-1 · partial barre · medium

Notes: C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · B · D♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
First shape: x-4-1-4-2-1

How to play C♯9 on guitar

Shape 1, x-4-1-4-2-1, reading from the low E string on the left:

Barre the 1st fret with your index finger, covering the 4 strings from the D string to the high E string.
Put your middle finger on the B string at the 2nd fret, which is C♯.
Put your ring finger on the A string at the 4th fret, which is C♯.
Put your pinky finger on the G string at the 4th fret, which is B.
Skip the low E string and begin the strum from the A string.

Only part of the finger needs to press here, so flatten just the tip section across those strings and keep the rest of the hand relaxed.
Your little finger has a job in this shape; it gets stronger in a week or two of short daily practice.
A four-fret stretch: drop your wrist a little and point your thumb up the back of the neck.

Other ways to play C♯9

9-11-9-10-9-11: barre shape at the 9th fret, medium. Root on the 6th string: move it up or down and it names a different dominant ninth chord.
9-6-6-6-6-7: partial barre shape at the 6th fret, medium. Use it when the next chord sits nearby on the neck.

Playing C♯9 with a capo

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 1st fret and play the open C9 shape (x-3-2-3-3-3). The chord sounds as C♯9 because the capo raises every string by a half step.

Changing from C♯9 to the chords around it

These are the changes you'll meet most often with C♯9, using the first shape of each chord.

F♯ (dominant, pulls to the chord a fifth below): C♯9 (x-4-1-4-2-1) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): your ring finger stays put, the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger slides across to the D string at the same fret. Listen for C♯, which stays put while the rest moves. F♯ on guitar
F♯maj7 (I in F♯ major): C♯9 (x-4-1-4-2-1) to F♯maj7 (2-4-3-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the G string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. C♯ and E♯ carry over from one chord to the other. F♯maj7 on guitar
E♭m7 (vi in F♯ major): C♯9 (x-4-1-4-2-1) to E♭m7 (x-x-1-3-2-2): your middle finger stays put, the index finger goes to the D string, 1st fret, your ring finger lands on the high E string, 2nd fret, move the pinky finger to the G string, 3rd fret. Shared notes: C♯ and D♯. E♭m7 on guitar

C♯9 is a dominant ninth: C♯7 with the ninth on top. C♯9 is the funk and soul version of C♯7, fuller on top and still pulling toward its resolution. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

A short C♯9 drill

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: C♯, D♯, B, C♯, E♯. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 9-11-9-10-9-11 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Written D♭9, it's the same chord with the same frets.

Where C♯9 shows up

C♯9 on piano and ukulele

The same notes on another instrument: C♯9 on piano and C♯9 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.

Next to try on guitar

Other dominant ninth chords

C♯9 on guitar: questions

What notes are in C♯9 on guitar?

C♯, E♯, G♯, B and D♯. In the x-4-1-4-2-1 shape the strings play C♯ (A string), D♯ (D string), B (G string), C♯ (B string) and E♯ (high E string).

What's the easiest way to play C♯9 on guitar?

In standard tuning C♯9 can't use open strings. Begin with 9-6-6-6-6-7. It uses 3 fingers including a barre, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is C♯9 a barre chord on guitar?

Not usually: x-4-1-4-2-1 needs no barre. Barre forms exist up the neck if you want a different sound.

Which string does C♯9 start on?

In the x-4-1-4-2-1 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 4th fret, which is C♯, the root. Skip the low E string.

Every shape above plays only C♯, E♯, G♯, B and D♯, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.