Piano chord
C♯m9C sharp minor 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♯m9 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♯m9 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of C♯m9. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has C♯ at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: C♯C♯ – E – G♯ – B – D♯
- 1st inversionbass: EE – G♯ – B – D♯ – C♯
- 2nd inversionbass: G♯G♯ – B – D♯ – C♯ – E
- 3rd inversionbass: BB – D♯ – C♯ – E – G♯
C♯m9 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♯m9 on other instruments
About the C♯m9 chord
The 5 notes of C sharp minor ninth are C♯ (1), E (♭3), G♯ (5), B (♭7), D♯ (9). A minor ninth: a minor seventh with the ninth. Lush and mellow, heard in neo-soul and jazz ballads.
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♯m9: C♯ in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of C♯m9 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♯).
Add D♯ to C♯m7 and you have C♯m9.
Questions
What notes are in the C♯m9 chord?
C♯m9 (C sharp minor ninth) has 5 notes: C♯ (1), E (♭3), G♯ (5), B (♭7), D♯ (9).
How many inversions does C♯m9 have?
C♯m9 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♯m9 and C♯m7?
Add D♯ to C♯m7 and you have C♯m9.
Can I play C♯m9 with one hand?
In root position C♯m9 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.