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C7#9 Guitar Chord

C7#9 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
C7#9Guitar fingering diagram for C7#91234×2134×STRING6ª×5ªC4ªE3ªA#2ªD#1ª×
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What sets C7#9 apart

C7#9 is built from C, E, G, Bb and D#. C is the root, E the major third, G the fifth, Bb the minor seventh and D# the sharp ninth. Said aloud, its notes are C, E, G, B flat and D sharp.

String by string, low to high, it plays C, E, Bb and D#. This shape leaves out G, the fifth. It runs from C on string 5 up to D# on string 2.

C7#9 uses no barre and no open strings, so you can slide the shape up the neck without changing fingers. Strings 6 and 1 stay silent. Your hand covers three frets, from 2 to 4. There is one more position, starting at fret 7.

Change only string 4 in C7#9 and you have Cm7b5. C7#9 and Am have C and E in common. F shares one position with this shape.

The notes of C7#9 do not fit together in any major or natural minor scale.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01C C - Am - Dm - G702Em Em - C - Am - B7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (C7#9)

Formula: Seventh with Augmented Ninth (1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - ♯9)
Constituent chord intervals:

C 1E 3G 5Bb ♭7D# ♯9

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 3 (C)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for C7#9:

01

position 3

Standard Position
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 3Finger 2
CDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 1
EDegree 3
3rd String (G)
Fret 3Finger 3
A#
2nd String (B)
Fret 4Finger 4
D#Degree ♯9
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 3 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 3 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 4 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

02

position 8

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 8Finger 2
CDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 7Finger 1
EDegree 3
4th String (D)
Fret 8Finger 3
A#
3rd String (G)
Fret 8Finger 4
D#Degree ♯9
2nd String (B)
×Muted
Do not play
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 8 with your Middle finger, 5th String (A) at fret 7 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 8 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 8 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 2nd String (B), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (C7#9)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets2 to 4
Fretting fingers4
Opennone
Muted6th and 1st

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from C7#9

Listen: C7#9 → F · Em · C

  1. C7#9
  2. F
  3. C7#9
  4. Em
  5. C7#9
  6. C
C7#9 → F01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 3
Move
  • string 6, fret 1
  • string 4, fret 3
  • string 3, fret 2
  • string 2, fret 1
  • string 1, fret 1
C7#9 → Em02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
C7#9 → C03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

C7#9 in every key

This chord type does not belong naturally to a major or minor scale: it is used as colour or passing tension.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
3/5
Highest fret
4
Frets the hand covers
3
Barre
No
Strings that ring
4/6
Fretting fingers
4

C7#9 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (C7#9)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the C7#9 chord?

To play the C7#9 chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 5 to string 2. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the C7#9 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the C7#9 chord is its root note: C. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 3.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the C7#9 chord and what is its formula?

The C7#9 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - ♯9 formula (Seventh with Augmented Ninth). Its constituent pitches are C, E, G, Bb, D#.

How do you prevent the C7#9 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the C7#9 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official C7#9 chord diagram

C7#9 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the C family:

Chord C Chord C#m Chord Cm Chord C7 Chord Cmaj7 Chord C#m7 Chord Cm7 Chord Csus2