Piano chord
C♯maj9C sharp major ninth
- C♯1
- E♯3
- G♯5
- B♯7
- D♯9
- Notes
- 5
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-3-5
How to play C♯maj9 on piano
- Find C♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play C♯ with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on E♯, 3 on B♯, 5 on D♯.
- Leave out G♯: the chord is still recognisable without it, and the hand stays relaxed.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯ – D♯
1st inversion · E♯ – G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – C♯
2nd inversion · G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – C♯ – E♯
3rd inversion · B♯ – D♯ – C♯ – E♯ – G♯
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
C♯maj9 inversions
C♯maj9 can be played in 4 positions. In root position C♯ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: C♯C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯ – D♯
- 1st inversionbass: E♯E♯ – G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – C♯
- 2nd inversionbass: G♯G♯ – B♯ – D♯ – C♯ – E♯
- 3rd inversionbass: B♯B♯ – D♯ – C♯ – E♯ – G♯
C♯maj9 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays C♯, the right hand plays the colour notes E♯–B♯–D♯. Notes that can be left out are left out.
C♯maj9 on other instruments
About the C♯maj9 chord
C sharp major ninth has 5 notes: C♯ (1), E♯ (3), G♯ (5), B♯ (7), D♯ (9). A major ninth: a major seventh with the ninth. One of the most colourful major chords, used in jazz and modern pop.
Put your thumb on C♯ and count up: C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯ – D♯. The whole chord spans 14 semitones from bottom to top. That is wider than an octave, so most pianists split C♯maj9: C♯ in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of C♯maj9 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is E♯ (E♯–G♯–B♯–D♯–C♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G♯ (G♯–B♯–D♯–C♯–E♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B♯ (B♯–D♯–C♯–E♯–G♯).
C♯maj9 is C♯maj7 with one note added: D♯.
Questions
What notes are in the C♯maj9 chord?
C♯maj9 (C sharp major ninth) has 5 notes: C♯ (1), E♯ (3), G♯ (5), B♯ (7), D♯ (9).
How many inversions does C♯maj9 have?
C♯maj9 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C♯–E♯–G♯–B♯–D♯); 1st inversion (E♯–G♯–B♯–D♯–C♯); 2nd inversion (G♯–B♯–D♯–C♯–E♯); 3rd inversion (B♯–D♯–C♯–E♯–G♯).
What is the difference between C♯maj9 and C♯maj7?
C♯maj9 is C♯maj7 with one note added: D♯.
Can I play C♯maj9 with one hand?
In root position C♯maj9 spans 14 semitones, more than an octave. Play the root with the left hand and the upper notes with the right, or leave out the fifth.