C♯ major ninth (C♯maj9) chord on mandolin

Looking for the C♯maj9 chord on mandolin? It is a major ninth chord (a major seventh chord plus a major ninth), made of five notes: C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯ – D♯. The same chord with a different spelling: D♭ major ninth (D♭maj9).

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Basic shapemedium

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What the C♯maj9 chord sounds like

A major ninth is a major seventh chord with an added ninth: spacious, floating and very jazzy as a tonic.

Notes of the C♯maj9 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♯	major seventh (11 semitones)
9	D♯	major second (2 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 9, ring finger (C♯6)
String 2 (A): fret 8, middle finger (E♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 10, little finger (B♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 8, index finger (D♯4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Similar chords and substitutes

If C♯maj9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

B♭m7 – relative minor seventh: three shared notes
Fm7 – mediant minor seventh: three shared notes
C♯6 – another tonic colour, more vintage and swingy

Simpler versions

C♯maj7 – 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

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯maj9 chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play C♯maj9 on mandolin?

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♯maj9 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♯maj9 chord written?

The chord symbol is C♯maj9 (also written C#maj9), and its full name is C♯ major ninth.