F♯ dominant ninth (F♯9) chord on mandolin

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

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Basic shapemedium

Position 3medium

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What the F♯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 F♯9 chord

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

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 2, little finger (F♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 1, middle finger (A♯4)
String 3 (D): fret 2, ring finger (E4)
String 4 (G): fret 1, index finger (G♯3)

Position 3

String 1 (E): fret 4, ring finger (G♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 7, little finger (E5)
String 3 (D): fret 4, middle finger (F♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 3, index finger (A♯3)

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.

Which keys is it in?

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

B major: V9 (dominant)
G♯ minor: VII9

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

C7 – tritone substitute: the same third and seventh, swapped – a jazz favourite
B♭dim7 – diminished seventh on the third: a common stand-in for the dominant
F♯7 – a simpler dominant
F♯7sus4 – suspended dominant, less tense
B – where it resolves (V → I)

Simpler versions

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

Richer versions

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

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the F♯9 chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play F♯9 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 2 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 F♯9 shapes?

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

How is the F♯9 chord written?

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