Chords › C♯add9

C Sharp Add9 Chord on Guitar

3214

Movable

C♯add9 is an add9 chord: a major chord with the ninth added on top, brighter and more open than plain major. C♯add9 has no open shape, so it is usually played as a 4-string shape near the nut.

How to play C♯add9, finger by finger

  1. Put your index finger on string 3 at the 1st fret.
  2. Put your middle finger on string 4 at the 3rd fret.
  3. Put your ring finger on string 5 at the 4th fret.
  4. Put your pinky finger on string 2 at the 4th fret.
  5. Strum strings 5 to 2 only.

More ways to play C♯add9

412
Barre near the nut
314
Barre near the nut
3214
Barre near the nut
3fr2143
Movable, fret 3 from fret 3
6fr411
Barre, fret 6 from fret 6
6fr4213
Movable, fret 6 from fret 6
8fr3142
Movable, fret 8 from fret 8
9fr3214
Movable, fret 9 from fret 9

Notes in C♯add9

NoteIntervalRole
C♯1root
E♯3major third
G♯5fifth
D♯9ninth

Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 9

Questions about C♯add9

What notes are in C♯add9?

C♯, E♯, G♯ and D♯. Those are the 1, 3, 5, 9 of the chord, counted from C♯.

Which strings do I strum for C♯add9?

Start on string 5 and strum down to string 1, and leave the strings marked with an X silent.

Is C♯add9 the same as D♭add9?

Yes, on guitar they are played the same way and sound the same. C sharp and D flat are two names for one note: songs in sharp keys write C♯, songs in flat keys write D♭.

Often played with C♯add9

Other add9 chords