C#madd9

C#madd9 is C#, E, G# and D#, a minor add nine. The shape this page opens on is written x4214x, lowest string first.

Note by note. C# is the root, E is the minor third, G# is the fifth and D# is the ninth.

Also written C#m(add9), C#min(add9) or C#-add9. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 8 common shapes for C#madd9 on the guitar, and 22 derived voicings in 2 families.

One note away. Change a single note of C#madd9 and you have C#m (with one note taken away), C#sus2 (with one note taken away), C#sus2sus4 (with one note moved), C#m6 (with one note moved), C#m69 (with one note added) or C#m7 (with one note moved).

In which keys. Every note of C#madd9 belongs to C# minor (the i), E major (the vi), Ab minor (the iv) and B major (the ii).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: x4214x, x42x44, x46640, x7664x, 97x890, 9-11-11-9-9-11, x-x-11-9-9-11, x-x-14-13-14-11.

Under the hand. 1 of the 8 shapes here sits in open position, and the first uses 1 open string with 1 left unplayed. 2 of the 8 need a barre. Together they cover the neck from the 1st fret to the 14th.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. C#madd9 has xx1120, x6665x, x-x-11-9-9-11, 11-11-11-9-x-x, x-x-13-13-14-12, 0411xx, x4214x, xx2644.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. C#madd9 has x4x140, 0x112x, 4x264x, x6x654, 9x685x, x7x899, 11-x-11-9-9-x, 12-x-13-13-14-x.

What kind of chord this is. C#madd9 is a minor chord — root, minor third, fifth. minor chords on every root, and what they are for.

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.