Root position C♯add9
C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – D♯
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-4-3-1
C♯add9 Chord on Piano
C♯add9 C♯ E♯ G♯ D♯ Formula 1 3 5 9 4 notes
Also written D♭ add9: the same keys under another name.
Notes
What notes are in the C♯add9 chord?
The C♯add9 chord has 4 notes: C♯, E♯, G♯, D♯. The major triad plus the ninth (the second, an octave up): played close, the ninth sits right above the fifth. Spelled by the rules of harmony, E♯ is the F key on the keyboard.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| C♯ | Root | 0 |
| E♯ (the F key) | Major 3rd | 4 |
| G♯ | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| D♯ | Major 9th | 14 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play C♯add9
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion C♯add9/F
E♯ – G♯ – C♯ – D♯
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-4-3-1
2nd inversion C♯add9/G♯
G♯ – C♯ – E♯ – D♯
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-4-3-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with C♯add9
Every key where C♯add9 is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
C♯add9 is not a diatonic chord of any major or natural minor key.
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the C♯add9 chord?
The C♯add9 chord (C♯add9) is made of C♯, E♯, G♯, D♯. Its formula is 1 3 5 9 - the root, then the intervals of a add 9 chord.
How do you play C♯add9 on the piano?
Put your right thumb on C♯ and play the other notes with fingers 1-2-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-4-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of C♯add9?
root position C♯add9 (C♯ E♯ G♯ D♯); 1st inversion C♯add9/F (E♯ G♯ C♯ D♯); 2nd inversion C♯add9/G♯ (G♯ C♯ E♯ D♯).
Is C♯add9 the same as D♭ add9?
On the piano, yes: the same keys. The name changes with the key you are in - sharps in sharp keys, flats in flat keys.
Play it for real
Hold C♯add9 and build a progression on it
The GOONS piano studio has up to 88 keys, real piano samples, MIDI keyboard support, chord pads in any key and a sequencer. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.