C♯add9 guitar chord
How to play C♯add9 on guitar — the notes C♯, E♯, G♯, D♯, a shape you can tap to hear, the keys it lives in, and a progression to hear it in context. Free.
The shape
Tap the diagram to hear C♯add9 strummed. C♯add9 is played as a barre chord around fret 4: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
The notes in C♯add9
A added ninth chord is spelled from its root up: C♯ (R), E♯ (3), G♯ (5), D♯ (9). Those are the only notes in C♯add9 — play them in any order, in any octave, and it's still C♯add9.
What a added ninth chord is
In plain terms, an add9 keeps a full major chord and adds the ninth on top (root, 3rd, 5th, 9th) — colour without changing the chord's job.
How it's used: A major chord with sparkle: it stays a I or IV but shimmers. Unlike a sus, it keeps its third, so its major/minor identity is intact.
The sound: Bright, sparkling, modern — a major chord with extra light. Where you'll hear it: Modern pop, worship, acoustic singer-songwriter, ambient rock.
Hear C♯add9 in a progression
An add9 keeps its major job but sparkles — here in a I–V move. Press play, and drag the Key control to move it anywhere.
Other C♯ chords
added ninth chords on other roots
Chords and their spellings are shared facts of music theory. Every diagram and sound here is generated by ThunderFret's own engine — no tabs, lyrics or recordings are reproduced.
Open C♯add9 in the interactive tool to see every place it sits on the neck, hear it, and find the shape that fits your hand — free.
See C♯add9 on the fretboardFrequently asked
What notes are in C♯add9?
C♯add9 is made of 4 notes: C♯ (the R), E♯ (the 3), G♯ (the 5), D♯ (the 9).
How do you play C♯add9 on guitar?
C♯add9 is played as a barre chord around fret 4: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
When would I use C♯add9?
Modern pop, worship, acoustic singer-songwriter, ambient rock.