C sharp ninth chord (C#9) on piano
The C sharp ninth chord (C#9) on piano has 5 notes: C sharp, E sharp, G sharp, B, and D sharp (C♯, E♯, G♯, B, D♯). With the right hand, use fingers 1-2-3-4-5; with the left hand, 5-4-3-2-1 (1 is the thumb). On the keyboard below, the root (C sharp) has the strongest color; each key shows the note name and the degree.
- Notes
- C♯E♯G♯BD♯
- Formula
- 135♭79
How to play C#9 on piano
Root position · From low to high: C♯ E♯ G♯ B D♯
Right hand: 1-2-3-4-5 Left hand: 5-4-3-2-1
Fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little finger. The small dot marks middle C (C4). Tap a key to hear the note.
C#9 chord inversions
Inverting a chord means putting another of its notes in the bass (the lowest key) without changing the notes. Inversions shorten the way your hand travels from one chord to the next and slightly change the color of the sound.
-
1st inversion (C#9/E#)
C#9/E#: E sharp (3) in the bass
From low to high: E♯ G♯ B C♯ D♯
-
2nd inversion (C#9/G#)
C#9/G#: G sharp (5) in the bass
From low to high: G♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯
-
3rd inversion (C#9/B)
C#9/B: B (♭7) in the bass
From low to high: B C♯ D♯ E♯ G♯
Notes and intervals of C#9
C#9 (C sharp ninth) is built from 5 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:
- C♯ · 1 · root
- E♯ · 3 · major third
- G♯ · 5 · perfect fifth
- B · ♭7 · minor seventh
- D♯ · 9 · ninth
About the ninth chord
A dominant chord with a ninth: the seventh plus the ninth make the chord full and groovy. It is the sound of funk, soul, samba-jazz and modern blues, and it can almost always stand in for a plain seventh chord.
Other C sharp chords
- C#
- C#m
- C#7
- C#7M
- C#m7
- C#m7(b5)
- C#°
- C#°7
- C#+
- C#sus2
- C#sus4
- C#7sus4
- C#5
- C#add9
- C#6
- C#m6
- C#9
- C#m(add9)
- C#m9
- C#7M(9)
- C#m(7M)
- C#7M(#5)
- C#7(b9)
- C#6(9)
- C#m6(9)
- C#11
- C#m11
- C#13
- C#m13
- C#7(#9)
- C#7(#11)
- C#7(b13)
- C#7(#5)
- C#7M(#11)
- C#9sus4
Ninth: other roots
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the C#9 chord on piano?
C#9 (C sharp ninth) has the notes C♯, E♯, G♯, B, D♯. The formula is 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9: root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, ninth.
How do you play C#9 on piano?
Find the C sharp key and add the other notes above it: C♯, E♯, G♯, B, D♯. Play them all together. With the right hand, use fingers 1-2-3-4-5; with the left hand, 5-4-3-2-1.
What are the inversions of C#9?
1st inversion (C#9/E#): E♯ G♯ B C♯ D♯; 2nd inversion (C#9/G#): G♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯; 3rd inversion (C#9/B): B C♯ D♯ E♯ G♯.
What does C#9 mean?
C#9 is the chord symbol for C sharp ninth. A dominant chord with a ninth: the seventh plus the ninth make the chord full and groovy. It is the sound of funk, soul, samba-jazz and modern blues, and it can almost always stand in for a plain seventh chord.
Is the C#9 chord the same on piano and keyboard?
Yes. The notes and inversions are the same on any keyboard instrument: acoustic piano, digital piano, keyboard, organ or synthesizer.