Piano chord
F♯9F sharp dominant ninth
- F♯1
- A♯3
- C♯5
- E♭7
- G♯9
- Notes
- 5
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-3-5
How to play F♯9 on piano
- Find F♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play F♯ with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on A♯, 3 on E, 5 on G♯.
- Leave out C♯: 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 · F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯
1st inversion · A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯ – F♯
2nd inversion · C♯ – E – G♯ – F♯ – A♯
3rd inversion · E – G♯ – F♯ – A♯ – C♯
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
F♯9 inversions
F♯9 can be played in 4 positions. In root position F♯ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: F♯F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯
- 1st inversionbass: A♯A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯ – F♯
- 2nd inversionbass: C♯C♯ – E – G♯ – F♯ – A♯
- 3rd inversionbass: EE – G♯ – F♯ – A♯ – C♯
F♯9 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays F♯, the right hand plays the colour notes A♯–E–G♯. Notes that can be left out are left out.
F♯9 on other instruments
About the F♯9 chord
F sharp dominant ninth has 5 notes: F♯ (1), A♯ (3), C♯ (5), E (♭7), G♯ (9). A dominant ninth: a dominant seventh with the ninth on top. Funky and rich, typical of blues, funk and soul.
On the keyboard, start from F♯ and add the other notes above it: F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E – G♯. From the lowest to the highest key that is 14 semitones. It is too wide for one hand: play F♯ with the left hand and the rest with the right.
Each inversion of F♯9 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is A♯ (A♯–C♯–E–G♯–F♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is C♯ (C♯–E–G♯–F♯–A♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is E (E–G♯–F♯–A♯–C♯).
F♯9 is F♯7 with one note added: G♯.
Questions
What notes are in the F♯9 chord?
F♯9 (F sharp dominant ninth) has 5 notes: F♯ (1), A♯ (3), C♯ (5), E (♭7), G♯ (9).
How many inversions does F♯9 have?
F♯9 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (F♯–A♯–C♯–E–G♯); 1st inversion (A♯–C♯–E–G♯–F♯); 2nd inversion (C♯–E–G♯–F♯–A♯); 3rd inversion (E–G♯–F♯–A♯–C♯).
What is the difference between F♯9 and F♯7?
F♯9 is F♯7 with one note added: G♯.
Can I play F♯9 with one hand?
In root position F♯9 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.