Piano chord
C♯m(add9)C sharp minor added ninth
- C♯1
- E♭3
- G♯5
- D♯9
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play C♯m(add9) on piano
- Find C♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on C♯, 2 on E, 3 on G♯, 5 on D♯.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on C♯, 4 on E, 3 on G♯, 1 on D♯.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · C♯ – E – G♯ – D♯
1st inversion · E – G♯ – D♯ – C♯
2nd inversion · G♯ – D♯ – C♯ – E
3rd inversion · D♯ – C♯ – E – G♯
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
C♯m(add9) inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on C♯; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: C♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: ERight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 2nd inversionbass: G♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: D♯Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
C♯m(add9) with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C♯ an octave lower, the right hand plays C♯–E–G♯–D♯.
C♯m(add9) on other instruments
About the C♯m(add9) chord
To build C sharp minor added ninth, take these 4 notes from the root up: C♯ (1), E (♭3), G♯ (5), D♯ (9). A minor added ninth: a minor triad plus the ninth. Wistful and modern, a common substitute for the plain minor chord.
The keys are C♯ – E – G♯ – D♯, counted up from C♯; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 14 semitones. Few hands reach that far, so share C♯m(add9) between both hands, with C♯ in the left.
In the inversions of C♯m(add9) the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is E (E–G♯–D♯–C♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G♯ (G♯–D♯–C♯–E). In the 3rd inversion the bass is D♯ (D♯–C♯–E–G♯).
Compared with C♯m, C♯m(add9) has one more note, D♯.
Questions
What notes are in the C♯m(add9) chord?
C♯m(add9) (C sharp minor added ninth) has 4 notes: C♯ (1), E (♭3), G♯ (5), D♯ (9).
How many inversions does C♯m(add9) have?
C♯m(add9) can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C♯–E–G♯–D♯); 1st inversion (E–G♯–D♯–C♯); 2nd inversion (G♯–D♯–C♯–E); 3rd inversion (D♯–C♯–E–G♯).
What is the difference between C♯m(add9) and C♯m?
Compared with C♯m, C♯m(add9) has one more note, D♯.
Can I play C♯m(add9) with one hand?
In root position C♯m(add9) 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.