How to play C#7b9: a dominant 7th flat 9 built on C#, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: played at the first few frets. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 4 3 4 3 x (x = not played).
| Note | C# | E# | B | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b7 | b9 |
C#7b9 is a dominant 7th flat 9 with C# as its root. The full theoretical spelling is C#, E#, G#, B, D. This voicing omits the 5th, the tone guitarists drop first when fitting a chord onto six strings.
C#7b9 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 0 major keys and 1 minor key. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
All tools are free with no download. Customize the fingering, print it, or drop it straight into a chart.
🤲 Play C#7b9 a way we don't show? Suggest your voicing and it may join the library (with a thank-you in your inbox).
C#7b9 is spelled C#, E#, G#, B, D: the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, flat 9th. The common guitar voicing sounds C#, E#, B, D, leaving out the 5th.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 4 3 4 3 x (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 3rd fret from the D string to the B string (a barre). Add the A and G strings at the 4th fret. Strum from the A string down, skipping the high E string; the low E string stays silent.
C#7b9 belongs to one key: F# minor (the V, from the harmonic minor).
