Chord chart for C7♯9 Guitar Chord (C dominant 7th sharp 9th): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

C dominant 7th sharp 9th guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 43 playable shapes

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C dominant 7th sharp 9th guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

C dominant 7th sharp 9th guitar chord

C7♯9 is the C dominant 7th sharp 9th guitar chord. It uses the notes C, E, G, B♭, and D♯ and the interval formula 1-3-5-♭7-♯9.

The C dominant 7th sharp 9th dominant 7th sharp 9th chord introduces a sharp ninth D♯, creating a bluesy, expressive tension. The clash between the major third E and sharp ninth D♯ gives it a powerful, gritty sound used in jazz, funk, and rock.

Also written as Cdom7♯9 and C7(♯9).

Root note: C
Quality: dominant 7th sharp 9th
Chord tones: 5
Playable shapes: 43

Chord tones

CEGB♭D♯

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape x31310

x31310

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 4th string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string.
  5. 5 Let the first string ring open.
  6. 6 Strum from the 5th string down.

Shape x35340

x35340

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string.
  5. 5 Let the first string ring open.
  6. 6 Strum from the 5th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

C Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

E Major Third 3

This note defines the chord's major quality and brings brightness to the sound.

G Perfect Fifth 5

The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.

B♭ Minor Seventh ♭7

The minor seventh adds bluesy or jazzy tension that wants to move onward.

D♯ Augmented Ninth ♯9

This tone contributes color and function inside the chord voicing.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

C dominant 7th sharp 9th shape x31310

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string
  5. 5 Let the first string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

C dominant 7th sharp 9th shape x35340

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  5. 5 Let the first string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

C dominant 7th sharp 9th shape 868080

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the third and first strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C dominant 7th sharp 9th shape 8a8880

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string, 3rd string, 4th string, and 6th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Let the first string ring open
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C dominant 7th sharp 9th shape xxa9bb

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 9th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 11th fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

C dominant 7th sharp 9th shape x31340

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the first string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

C dominant 7th sharp 9th shape 868550

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string and 3rd string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string
  5. 5 Let the first string ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C dominant 7th sharp 9th shape 868050

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string
  5. 5 Let the third and first strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in C7♯9?

C7♯9 uses the notes C, E, G, B♭, and D♯. Its interval formula is 1-3-5-♭7-♯9.

What is another name for C7♯9?

C7♯9 is also written as Cdom7♯9 and C7(♯9).

How do you play C7♯9 on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 4th string. Place the 2nd finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string. Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string. Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string. Let the first string ring open. Strum from the 5th string down.

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