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Guitar chords · Minor add 9

C♯m(add9) chord on guitar (C#m(add9))

C♯m(add9) (C♯ minor add 9) has four notes: C♯, E, G♯ and D♯, the , ♭3, 5 and 9.

Shapes

How to play C♯m(add9)

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

C♯m(add9) has no common . Play it as the A shape at 4 or the E shape at fret 9. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 4

    ××R♭359C♯EG♯D♯
  • E shape · fret 9

    9frR59♭35RC♯G♯D♯EG♯C♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes C♯m(add9) minor add 9

A minor add9 chord is a minor chord with the 9th added and no 7th. The 9th sits a above the , giving the minor chord a wistful, ringing colour heard in ballads and film music.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd and the 9th make C♯m(add9) a minor add 9 chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. C♯Rroot
  2. E♭3essential
  3. G♯5optional
  4. D♯9essential
EADGBE0135791215C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯EG♯D♯ED♯EG♯D♯EG♯D♯EG♯D♯EG♯D♯EG♯EG♯D♯E
  • C♯, the root
  • Other chord tones

C♯m(add9) and D♭m(add9) are the same chord with two names: same , same sound. Which one you see depends on the key the song is written in.

Keys

Keys with C♯m(add9)

C♯m(add9) belongs to four keys: E major (vi(add9)), B major (ii(add9)), C♯ minor (i(add9)) and G♯ minor (iv(add9)).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

C♯m(add9) over another bass note

A keeps C♯m(add9) on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • C♯m(add9)/E

    C♯m(add9) with its ♭3rd, E, in the bass.

  • C♯m(add9)/G♯

    C♯m(add9) with its 5th, G♯, in the bass.

Questions

C♯m(add9), in short

What notes are in the C♯m(add9) chord?
C♯m(add9) (C♯ minor add 9) has four notes: C♯, E, G♯ and D♯, the , ♭3, 5 and 9.
How do you play C♯m(add9) on guitar?
C♯m(add9) has no common . Play it as the A shape at 4 or the E shape at fret 9.
What key is C♯m(add9) in?
C♯m(add9) belongs to four keys: E major (vi(add9)), B major (ii(add9)), C♯ minor (i(add9)) and G♯ minor (iv(add9)).
Is C♯m(add9) the same as D♭m(add9)?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. C♯m(add9) is the spelling in E major, B major, C♯ minor and G♯ minor; D♭m(add9) only in C♭ major and A♭ minor, which most players write as B major and G♯ minor.
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