C♯madd9 Guitar Chord — Notes, Formula & 4 Voicings (PDF)

Voicings

4 ways to play C♯madd9

Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.

GG shape 1st inversion C♯madd9/E

Frets x 7 6 6 4 0Notes E G♯ C♯ D♯Intervals ♭3 5 1 9Base triadC♯ minor, 1st inversion

The 9th gets a string of its own.

GG shape Root position C♯madd9

Frets 9 7 6 8 9 0Notes C♯ E G♯ D♯Intervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape Root position C♯madd9

Frets 9 11 11 9 9 11Notes C♯ E G♯ D♯Intervals 1 ♭3 5 9Base triadC♯ minor, root position

The 9th gets a string of its own.

EE shape 2nd inversion AnchoredC♯madd9

Frets 9 11 13 9 9 0Notes C♯ G♯ D♯ EIntervals 1 5 9 ♭3Base triadC♯ minor, 2nd inversion

The root drops to the string below the triad. The 9th takes the root’s string.

The rules

Start from a triad
Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.
No 7th, no stack
6, add9, add11 and 6/9 are a triad with a colour note, not a stack. Without a 7th the chord sounds open rather than jazzy.
On guitar, something has to give
Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.
The root can move down
When an extension needs the root’s string, the root can drop to the string below the triad: an anchored voicing keeps the bass and frees a string on top.

All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.

What notes are in C♯madd9?

C♯madd9 is spelled C♯ E G♯ D♯: C♯ is the root, E is the ♭3rd, G♯ is the 5th, D♯ is the 9th.

What is the formula of C♯madd9?

1 ♭3 5 9. It is a C♯ minor triad with the 9th stacked on top.

How many ways can you play C♯madd9 on guitar?

This page shows 4 voicings of C♯madd9, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.