C♯add9 chord on ukulele

C♯add9 is C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯. The usual shape is 1-3-1-4. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

1-3-1-4 · movable · medium

Notes: C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · D♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 9
First shape: 1-3-1-4

How to play C♯add9 on ukulele

Shape 1, 1-3-1-4, reading from the G string on the left:

Index finger: G string, 1st fret (G♯).
Middle finger: E string, 1st fret (E♯).
Ring finger: C string, 3rd fret (D♯).
Pinky: A string, 4th fret (C♯).

The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.
The shape stretches across four frets. Bring your thumb lower behind the neck to open the hand up.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play C♯add9

6-5-4-6: movable shape at the 4th fret, medium. Same notes, stacked differently, so it sounds a little different.
8-8-9-8: movable shape at the 8th fret, medium. Higher up the neck it sounds brighter; handy when another guitar is already playing a lower shape.

Capo shortcuts for C♯add9

A capo turns an open chord into C♯add9: capo on the 1st fret and play the open Cadd9 shape (0-2-0-3). Handy when the rest of the song's chords also have open shapes in that position.

Moving between C♯add9 and its neighbours

The chords C♯add9 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

F♯ (IV in D♭ major): C♯add9 (1-3-1-4) to F♯ (3-1-2-1): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, move the ring finger to the E string, 2nd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Listen for C♯, which stays put while the rest moves. F♯ on ukulele
A♭ (V in D♭ major): C♯add9 (1-3-1-4) to A♭ (1-3-4-3): your index finger stays put, the middle finger goes to the C string, 3rd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger slides across to the E string at the same fret. G♯ and D♯ carry over from one chord to the other. A♭ on ukulele
B♭m (vi in D♭ major): C♯add9 (1-3-1-4) to B♭m (3-1-1-1): your middle finger stays put, the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 1st fret, your pinky finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret. Shared notes: C♯ and E♯. B♭m on ukulele

C♯add9 is C♯ major with the ninth (the note a whole step above the root, an octave up) added. All 4 notes of C♯add9 fit on the ukulele's four strings. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

A short C♯add9 drill

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: G♯, D♯, E♯, C♯. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 6-5-4-6 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Written D♭add9, it's the same chord with the same frets.

Keys and progressions with C♯add9

C♯add9 on guitar and piano

Switching instruments? Try C♯add9 on piano or C♯add9 on guitar, or compare them on the C♯add9 chord page.

Related C♯ chords on ukulele

Other add 9 chords

C♯add9 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in C♯add9 on ukulele?

C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯. In the 1-3-1-4 shape the strings play G♯ (G string), D♯ (C string), E♯ (E string) and C♯ (A string).

What's the easiest way to play C♯add9 on ukulele?

C♯add9 has no open-string shape in standard tuning, so every version needs a barre or a stretch. Start with 1-3-1-4. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is C♯add9 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not usually: 1-3-1-4 needs no barre.

Which string does C♯add9 start on?

In the 1-3-1-4 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 1st fret, which is G♯, the perfect fifth.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside C♯add9. Updated September 2026.