Piano chord
F♯maj9F sharp major 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♯maj9 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♯maj9 inversions
F♯maj9 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: E♯E♯ – G♯ – F♯ – A♯ – C♯
F♯maj9 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♯maj9 on other instruments
About the F♯maj9 chord
F sharp major ninth has 5 notes: F♯ (1), A♯ (3), C♯ (5), E♯ (7), G♯ (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 F♯ and count up: F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E♯ – G♯. The whole chord spans 14 semitones from bottom to top. That is wider than an octave, so most pianists split F♯maj9: F♯ in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of F♯maj9 keep the same notes in a new order. 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♯maj9 is F♯maj7 with one note added: G♯.
Questions
What notes are in the F♯maj9 chord?
F♯maj9 (F sharp major ninth) has 5 notes: F♯ (1), A♯ (3), C♯ (5), E♯ (7), G♯ (9).
How many inversions does F♯maj9 have?
F♯maj9 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♯maj9 and F♯maj7?
F♯maj9 is F♯maj7 with one note added: G♯.
Can I play F♯maj9 with one hand?
In root position F♯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.