How to play C♯ dominant 7th flat 5 chord on guitar

What does "989009" mean?

The sequence 989009 is a highly compact guitar chord notation. It represents the fret played on each of the 6 strings, reading left-to-right from the thickest (lowest pitch) string to the thinnest (highest pitch) string: E, A, D, G, B, e.

• x means the string is muted or skipped entirely.
• 0 means the string is played "open" (without pressing over a fret).
• 1-9 represent standard fret numbers 1 to 9.
• a, b, c... represent frets 10, 11, 12, and higher (where a=10, b=11, c=12).

Can I play this C♯ dominant 7th flat 5 shape anywhere else?

Yes! This specific layout is just one way to voice a C♯ dominant 7th flat 5 chord. You can find all other variations in our chord shape library for C♯ dominant 7th flat 5. Most guitarists choose different shapes based on whether they want a "brighter" or "deeper" sound, or which chord they are transitioning from.

How do I stop my fingers from buzzing?

Since this shape uses open strings (marked with '0'), make sure your fingers are arched like a "claw" so they don't accidentally brush against the open strings. Press down firmly just behind the metal fret wires for the clearest sound.