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E7#9 Guitar Chord

E7#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)
E7#9Guitar fingering diagram for E7#9Fret 67892134×STRING6ªE5ªE4ªG#3ªD2ªG1ª×
View HD sheet

What sets E7#9 apart

The notes of E7#9 are E, G#, B, D and F##. E is the root, G# the major third, B the fifth, D the minor seventh and F## the sharp ninth. Said aloud, its notes are E, G sharp, B, D and F double sharp.

String by string, low to high, it plays E, E, G#, D and F##. The root, E, shows up twice in the main shape. This shape leaves out B, the fifth. It runs from E on string 6 up to F## on string 2.

In E7#9, only one string rings open, string 6, which gives E. String 1 is not played. Your hand covers three frets, from 6 to 8. There is one more position, starting at fret 1.

E7#9 and C#m have E and G# in common. Dbm shares one position with this shape.

The notes of E7#9 do not fit together in any major or natural minor scale. Further down there is a song that uses it.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01E E - C#m - F#m - B702G#m G#m - E - C#m - D#7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (E7#9)

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

E 1G# 3B 5D ♭7F## ♯9

Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 0 (E)

String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for E7#9:

01

Hendrix chord

Standard Position
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
○Open
EDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 7Finger 2
EDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 6Finger 1
G#Degree 3
3rd String (G)
Fret 7Finger 3
DDegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
Fret 8Finger 4
G
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

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

02

Open

Inversion
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
○Open
EDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 2Finger 2
BDegree 5
4th String (D)
○Open
DDegree ♭7
3rd String (G)
Fret 1Finger 1
G#Degree 3
2nd String (B)
Fret 3Finger 3
DDegree ♭7
1st String (High E)
Fret 3Finger 4
G

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 3 with your Ring finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 3 with your Pinky finger. Play open: 6th String (Low E), 4th String (D).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (E7#9)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets6 to 8
Fretting fingers4
Open6th
Muted1st

What to check

The open 6th string sits next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from E7#9

Listen: E7#9 → Dbm · Abm · A

  1. E7#9
  2. Dbm
  3. E7#9
  4. Abm
  5. E7#9
  6. A
E7#9 → Dbm01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 4, fret 6
Move
  • string 5, fret 4
  • string 3, fret 6
  • string 2, fret 5
  • string 1, fret 4
E7#9 → Abm02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 4, fret 6
Move
  • string 6, fret 4
  • string 5, fret 6
  • string 3, fret 4
  • string 2, fret 4
  • string 1, fret 4
E7#9 → A03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 4 first, then the rest of the shape.

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

E7#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
2/5
Highest fret
8
Frets the hand covers
3
Barre
No
Strings that ring
5/6
Fretting fingers
4

E7#9 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Songs with this chord

Famous songs featuring this chord (E7#9)

Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role

01"Purple Haze"The Jimi Hendrix Experience • 1967Part of the main riff (E7#9).
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (E7#9)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the E7#9 chord?

To play the E7#9 chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 6 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 E7#9 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the E7#9 chord is its root note: E. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the E7#9 chord and what is its formula?

The E7#9 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - ♯9 formula (Seventh with Augmented Ninth). Its constituent pitches are E, G#, B, D, F##.

How do you prevent the E7#9 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the E7#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.

What famous songs use the E7#9 chord?

"Purple Haze" (The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1967). Part of the main riff (E7#9).

Study sheet · High resolution

Official E7#9 chord diagram

E7#9 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the E family:

Chord E Chord Eb Chord Em Chord Ebm Chord E7 Chord Eb7 Chord Emaj7 Chord Ebmaj7