Explore C#m9 Guitar Chord Shapes & Master Fretboard Placement
C#m9 is the C# minor ninth chord, made of C#, E, G#, B and D#. It is a C#m7 chord with a major ninth, D#, above the root.
Six voicings are listed, three of them barre shapes, and none uses an open string. The notes E, G#, B and D# on top make an Emaj7 chord, so a simple Emaj7 shape is a handy way to find the upper structure. More about the family sits in the article on ninth chords. The C# minor scale contains all five notes.
The labels in the player at the top show each note by name.
C# minor 9th guitar chord is also written as C#m9, C#min9 or C#-9.
Notes of the C# m9 chord:
Chord Formula:
Formula: 1 b3 5 b7 9
C# M9 Chord Interactive Fretboard
Want a structured chord roadmap instead of jumping between pages?
Go to the full guitar chords tutorial.
C# M9 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 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 4 of the B string
Position 2 Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the B string
- 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 G string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 9 of the low E string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 9 of the D string
Position 3 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 9 of the low E, D, G and B strings at the same time
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 11 of the A string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 11 of the high E string
Position 4 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the A string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 9 of the D, G and B strings at the same time
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 11 of the high E string
Position 5 Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the A 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 4 of the low E string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 4 of the G string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 4 of the B string
Position 6 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the A string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 9 of the low E, D, G and B strings at the same time
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 11 of the high E string
Find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
prefer a printable pdf, download
the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the notes of C#m9?
C#, E, G#, B and D#. These are the root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh and ninth.
How is C#m9 different from C#m7?
C#m9 keeps the four notes of C#m7 (C#, E, G#, B) and adds D# as a ninth. The extra note makes the chord sound fuller and slightly more colorful.
What is the ninth in C# minor ninth?
The ninth is D#, the same note as the second degree of the scale, but placed an octave higher. It is two semitones up from C# once the octave is added.
Does C#m9 have a second name?
Yes, Dbm9. C# and Db are one pitch, so Dbm9 sounds the same, but it is spelled Db, Fb, Ab, Cb and Eb.
How many ways can C#m9 be played?
The fingering data lists 6 voicings between the 2nd and 11th fret. Three are barre voicings and none uses an open string.
