Piano chord
F♯m(add9)F sharp minor added ninth
- F♯1
- A♭3
- C♯5
- G♯9
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play F♯m(add9) on piano
- Find F♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on F♯, 2 on A, 3 on C♯, 5 on G♯.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on F♯, 4 on A, 3 on C♯, 1 on G♯.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · F♯ – A – C♯ – G♯
1st inversion · A – C♯ – G♯ – F♯
2nd inversion · C♯ – G♯ – F♯ – A
3rd inversion · G♯ – F♯ – A – C♯
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
F♯m(add9) inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on F♯; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: F♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: ARight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 2nd inversionbass: C♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: G♯Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
F♯m(add9) with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays F♯ an octave lower, the right hand plays F♯–A–C♯–G♯.
F♯m(add9) on other instruments
About the F♯m(add9) chord
To build F sharp minor added ninth, take these 4 notes from the root up: F♯ (1), A (♭3), C♯ (5), G♯ (9). A minor added ninth: a minor triad plus the ninth. Wistful and modern, a common substitute for the plain minor chord.
Put your thumb on F♯ and count up: F♯ – A – C♯ – G♯. The whole chord spans 14 semitones from bottom to top. That is wider than an octave, so most pianists split F♯m(add9): F♯ in the left hand, the upper notes in the right.
The inversions of F♯m(add9) keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is A (A–C♯–G♯–F♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is C♯ (C♯–G♯–F♯–A). In the 3rd inversion the bass is G♯ (G♯–F♯–A–C♯).
Compared with F♯m, F♯m(add9) has one more note, G♯.
Questions
What notes are in the F♯m(add9) chord?
F♯m(add9) (F sharp minor added ninth) has 4 notes: F♯ (1), A (♭3), C♯ (5), G♯ (9).
How many inversions does F♯m(add9) have?
F♯m(add9) can be played in 4 positions: Root position (F♯–A–C♯–G♯); 1st inversion (A–C♯–G♯–F♯); 2nd inversion (C♯–G♯–F♯–A); 3rd inversion (G♯–F♯–A–C♯).
What is the difference between F♯m(add9) and F♯m?
Compared with F♯m, F♯m(add9) has one more note, G♯.
Can I play F♯m(add9) with one hand?
In root position F♯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.