The Hendrix Chord (7#9): How to Play and Use It on Guitar

If you’ve ever heard a guitarist bend a note up to an outrageous pitch or play a chord that sounds simultaneously funky and unsettling, you’ve likely encountered the legendary Hendrix chord. The 7#9 - pronounced “seven sharp nine” - is one of the most distinctive and sought-after chords in modern guitar music.

This chord gets its name from Jimi Hendrix, who famously used it throughout his revolutionary rock and blues recordings. While Hendrix didn’t invent it, he made it iconic and showed that this unconventional voicing could be the difference between an ordinary lick and something absolutely unforgettable.

What Is the 7#9 Chord?

The 7#9 is a dominant seventh chord with a raised (sharp) ninth note. Let’s break down the theory first.

The Formula

For an E7#9 chord, the notes are:

E (root)
G# (major third)
B (perfect fifth)
D (minor seventh)
F# (sharp ninth)

The sharp ninth is the natural ninth raised by a semitone (half step). In the context of the E major scale, the natural ninth is F#, so a sharp ninth is G-natural.

Wait, that’s the same as the third. Yes, and that’s the harmonic tension that makes this chord so interesting. You’ve got both the major third (G#) and the raised ninth (G-natural) sounding together, creating a pungent dissonance that’s distinctly bluesy and edgy.

Why It Works

The 7#9 operates as a dominant chord, meaning it wants to resolve to another chord a perfect fourth up (or fifth down). An E7#9 naturally wants to move to A major, just like a standard E7 would.

However, the raised ninth adds color and attitude. It’s that extra tension that makes the chord sound bluesy, funky, and slightly chaotic in the best way possible. Many players skip the resolution entirely and use 7#9 for its tonal character rather than harmonic function.

The Classic Hendrix E7#9

The most iconic version of this chord is in the key of E, which Hendrix used in numerous recordings.

Standard E7#9 Shape

e|---0---
B|---0---
G|---1---
D|---2---
A|---2---
E|---0---

This simple shape uses:

E and B open strings (root and fifth)
G at the 1st fret on the G string (major third)
D at the 2nd fret on the D string (minor seventh)
A open string (adding another root)
E open string (root)

Press down on the 1st and 2nd frets while letting the open strings ring. The E open string at the top combines with the D at the 2nd fret to create the characteristic sound.

Alternative E7#9 with Bent String

Hendrix often bent the high E string up one fret to create the F# (the raised ninth):

e|---1 (bent up)---
B|---0---
G|---1---
D|---2---
A|---2---
E|---0---

Bend the high E string at the 1st fret up to pitch (a full step bend), and you’ve got the classic Hendrix riff sound. This bent version is what appears on many of his recordings - it’s slightly harder to control but absolutely iconic.

Other Positions and Keys

The E7#9 is convenient because it uses open strings, but the real power of this chord appears when you can play it in any key.

A7#9 Voicing

e|---4---
B|---4---
G|---3---
D|---2---
A|---0---
E|---5---

This moveable shape can be transposed up or down the neck. The same relative finger positions work for any root note.

G7#9 Voicing

To play G7#9, use the same shape and move it down 2 frets from E7#9 (which moves the root to G). Position your first finger at the 3rd fret.

e|---3---
B|---3---
G|---2---
D|---1---
A|---0---
E|---3---

Two-Note Power Voicing

Sometimes less is more. You can imply a 7#9 chord with just the root and the raised ninth:

For E7#9, play:

E open (root)
G-natural at the 3rd fret on the high E string (raised ninth)

This minimal voicing is especially effective in rhythmic, funky contexts.

Rich Four-String Voicing

For fuller, more jazz-influenced sound:

D|---2---
G|---1---
B|---0---
e|---3 (bent)---

This uses:

D minor seventh
G major third
B perfect fifth
E (bent to F#) raised ninth

Why Hendrix Made This Chord Famous

Jimi Hendrix didn’t invent the 7#9, but he used it with such precision and creativity that it became permanently associated with his name. Listen to these Hendrix classics:

“Foxy Lady” - that opening riff is built on E7#9
“Purple Haze” - the main progression relies heavily on the 7#9 color
“Machine Gun” - showcases the chord’s power in a live context

What made Hendrix revolutionary wasn’t just playing the chord - it was how he combined it with:

Bending techniques that emphasized the raised ninth
Rhythmic muting and dynamics
Strategic use of distortion and feedback
Placing the chord in unexpected harmonic contexts

He showed that unconventional chords could be powerful and expressive, not just theoretical exercises.

Playing the 7#9 in Different Styles

Blues Guitar

The 7#9 is absolutely at home in blues. In a 12-bar blues in E:

E7#9 for the I chord
A7#9 for the IV chord
B7#9 for the V chord

The raised ninth adds that bent, bluesy character that defines the style. Many blues players intuitively bend the ninth without thinking about the theory - they’re using the 7#9 sound implicitly.

Rock and Alternative

Rock guitarists use 7#9 for attitude and edge. The Hendrix foundation means any rock player using this chord nods toward psychedelic rock history. It works especially well:

Over heavy distortion
In syncopated, rhythmic patterns
As a substitute for regular dominant chords
In power chord contexts with bent notes

Funk Guitar

Funk musicians love the 7#9 for its percussive, rhythmic character. The minor seventh and raised ninth create that tense, funky sound that demands to be muted and struck rhythmically.

A funk E7#9 groove might use tight rhythmic strumming on the and-of-the-beat, creating groove with the chord’s inherent tension.

Jazz and Contemporary Music

In jazz, the 7#9 appears as an altered dominant chord - a device for adding color to chord progressions. Instead of a plain E7 going to A, a jazz guitarist might use E7#9 to add sophistication and tension.

Contemporary artists use it across genres - pop, R&B, singer-songwriter music - whenever they want an edgy, unconventional dominant sound.

Muddying the Sound

One mistake is letting too many strings ring, creating a muddy tone. Control which strings sustain - often muting some strings while letting others ring creates clearer definition.

Losing the Root

If you move away from open strings, make sure the root is clear. Without a solid E (or whatever your root is), the chord loses its grounding and sounds confused.

Bending Inconsistently

If you include a bent note, bend it consistently to the same pitch every time. Half-hearted bends lose the charm.

Forcing It Everywhere

The 7#9 is powerful because it’s distinctive. Overusing it in every song dilutes its impact. Strategic placement makes it shine.

Harmonic Relationships and Resolution

While many players use 7#9 as a color chord without resolving it, understanding its function expands possibilities.

E7#9 traditionally resolves to A major or A minor (a perfect fourth up). But in modern music, it often doesn’t resolve at all. Players might:

Stay on E7#9 for multiple measures
Move to another chord unrelated to harmonic function
Use it as a passing chord in a progression
Loop it rhythmically without harmonic resolution

The “rules” of music theory provide structure, but 7#9’s history shows that breaking the rules is exactly where the magic lives.

Try This in Guitar Wiz

Use the Guitar Wiz app to practice switching between E major and E7#9. Load the chord diagrams to see the exact finger positions, then practice changing between them. Notice how adding the fretted notes (1st fret on G string, 2nd fret on D string) transforms the open E chord into the 7#9.

Try this progression in Guitar Wiz:

E7#9 (4 beats)
E major (4 beats)
Repeat slowly

Then use the metronome to practice at different tempos. Once you have the basic shape solid, experiment with muting the strings on specific beats to create a rhythmic, funky feel.

Next, try transposing the same finger pattern to A7#9 (move everything up 5 frets). The shape stays the same, but the root changes. This helps you internalize the voicing rather than memorizing it as “the E7#9.”

Finally, try the bent-string version. Place your finger at the 1st fret on the high E string and bend it up a full step while holding the other notes. Practice controlling the bend so it reaches pitch smoothly.