C♯ dominant ninth (C♯9) chord on banjo

Dominant ninth chord (a dominant seventh plus a major ninth) on C♯: the notes of the C♯9 chord are C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B – D♯. The same chord with a different spelling: D♭ dominant ninth (D♭9).

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Basic shapemedium

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What the C♯9 chord sounds like

A dominant ninth is a dominant seventh with an added major ninth. A fuller, fatter dominant sound – a staple of funk, soul and blues.

Notes of the C♯9 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	C♯	root
3	E♯	major third (4 semitones)
5	G♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
7	B	minor seventh (10 semitones)
9	D♯	major second (2 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): fret 3, ring finger (E♯4)
String 2 (B): fret 2, middle finger (C♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 4, little finger (B3)
String 4 (D): fret 1, index finger (D♯3)

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The C♯9 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

F♯ major: V9 (dominant)
D♯ minor: VII9

Similar chords and substitutes

If C♯9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

G7 – tritone substitute: the same third and seventh, swapped – a jazz favourite
Fdim7 – diminished seventh on the third: a common stand-in for the dominant
C♯7 – a simpler dominant
C♯7sus4 – suspended dominant, less tense
F♯ – where it resolves (V → I)

Simpler versions

C♯7 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
C♯add9 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
C♯ – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
C♯sus2 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

C♯11 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
C♯13 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯9 chord?

C♯, E♯, G♯, B, D♯. The root is C♯; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major second.

What is the easiest way to play C♯9 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 1 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some C♯9 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 5-note chord. The fifth (G♯) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the C♯9 chord written?

The chord symbol is C♯9 (also written C#9), and its full name is C♯ dominant ninth.