Master the C#maj9 Guitar Chord with Interactive Practice

C#maj9 is the C# major ninth chord: root C#, major third E#, fifth G#, major seventh B# and ninth D#. The ninth, D#, is the second note of the C# major scale placed an octave higher, so it stays inside the key.

Lydian is the other classic match: the C# Lydian scale contains all five chord tones and has a raised fourth. The page lists three voicings of C#maj9, two of them barre shapes. Its spelling includes E# and B#, so the same chord is also written as Dbmaj9. Its extended cousins are covered in ninth chords.

Strum the chord in front of your microphone and the player at the top shows which strings sound and which are muted.

C# major 9th guitar chord is also written as C#maj9, C#M9, C#Δ9 or C#ma9.

Notes of the C# maj9 chord:

C# E# G# B# D#

Formula of the Major Ninth chord:

Formula: 1 3 5 7 9

C# Maj9 Chord Interactive Fretboard

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Go to the full guitar chords tutorial.

C# Maj9 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 B string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the G string

Position 2 Barre Movable

Finger Positions

Mute the B string
Mute the high E string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the A and G strings at the same time
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the low E string
Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 10 of the D string

Position 3 Barre Movable

Finger Positions

Mute the low E string
Mute the A string
Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the G and high E strings at the same time
Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the B string
Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 11 of the D string

Find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you prefer a printable pdf, download the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf

Play This Chord With Other Roots

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Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

What notes make up C#maj9?

C#maj9 is spelled C#, E#, G#, B# and D#. The E# is the major third and the B# is the major seventh, written with those letters so that each letter name appears once.

What do the numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 mean in C# major ninth?

They name the chord tones by scale degree: the root C#, the major third E#, the fifth G#, the major seventh B# and the ninth D#. The ninth is the second degree, counted an octave higher than the root.

Does C#maj9 have another name, like Dbmaj9?

Yes, Dbmaj9 is the same set of pitches under a flat spelling: Db, F, Ab, C and Eb. C#maj9 keeps the sharp spelling, which suits sharp-based keys.

How many ways are there to play C#maj9?

There are three voicings, two of them using a barre and none using open strings. They run from fret 3 up to fret 11.

How does C# major ninth differ from a plain C# major triad?

The triad is C#, E# and G#. The ninth chord adds the major seventh B# and the ninth D# on top, which gives a softer, more spacious colour.