C♯9

C# 9th chord

Notes

C#FG#BD#

Intervals

135b79

Root

Voicings on standard tuning

Voicing 1

3fr

Voicing 2

8fr

Voicing 3

○

Voicing 4

7fr

Voicing 5

○

9fr

Voicing 6

○

9fr

Interval formula

1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 – 9

Sound character

a dominant 7th with extra grit — funk and blues staple

Where it appears

The funk chord — think James Brown stabs and blues turnarounds.

12-bar blues (I7–IV7–V7)

C#9 works as the I chord of a blues in C#.

ii–V–I in F#

As a dominant, C#9 pulls strongly to F#.

Turnaround

A classic way to end a blues or soul chorus and loop back.