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

Major ninth chord (a major seventh chord plus a major ninth) on C♯: the notes of the C♯maj9 chord are C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B♯ – D♯. The same chord with a different spelling: D♭ major ninth (D♭maj9).

Full chord: C♯4 – E♯4 – G♯4 – B♯4 – D♯5

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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)
7	B♯	major seventh (11 semitones)
9	D♯	major second (2 semitones)

Piano voicings

Chords with five or more notes are rarely played in one hand: the left hand takes the root, the right hand the colour notes. The fifth (and in an eleventh chord the third) is often left out.

Full chord

C♯4 – E♯4 – G♯4 – B♯4 – D♯5

Two-hand voicing

C♯3 – E♯4 – B♯4 – D♯5 – G♯5

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.

How do I play the C♯maj9 chord on piano?

Play the root with your left hand and the colour notes (third, seventh, ninth) with your right hand – the two-hand voicing above. Stacking all 5 notes in one hand is possible but sounds crowded.

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.