Learn › C#maj9 Chord on Piano (C Sharp Major 9th)
New Released in April 2026
C#maj9 Chord on Piano (C Sharp Major 9th)
To play the C#maj9 chord on the piano, press C#, E#, G#, B# and D#. It is the major seventh C#maj7 plus the 9th, D#. Expect a sound that is lush and calm, the classic jazz-ballad colour.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
How C#maj9 is built
Formula 1 3 5 7 9. Count from C# and every number is a step of the C# major scale, and a b lowers it by one key.
Start chord: C#maj7
| Note | Step | Interval | Keys from C# |
|---|---|---|---|
| C# | 1 | root | 0 |
| E# | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| G# | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| B# | 7 | major 7th | 11 |
| D# | 9 | major 9th | 14 |
C#maj9 in every position
Same notes, different order. Pick the position closest to the chord you just played.
Both hands: C# B# E# G# D#
Rootless, 3rd on the bottom: E# G# B# D#
Rootless, 7th on the bottom: B# D# E# G#
Left hand alone: C# B#
Hands and fingers
| Left hand | C# B# | 5 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Right hand | E# G# D# | 1 2 4 |
A second name for the same keys
Look at the four top notes of C#maj9: E# G# B# D#. They form E#m7. So C#maj9 is C# in the bass with E#m7 on top, an easy way to find it fast.
When to play C#maj9
- C#maj9 is the I chord of C# major and the IV chord of Ab major (as Dbmaj9).
- It replaces C#maj7 when a song wants a softer, wider sound.
A short C#maj9 routine
- Find C#, then add the other notes one at a time: C#, E#, G#, B# and D#.
- Play C#maj7, then C#maj9, then C#maj7 again, and hear what the 9th adds to the major seventh.
- Try C#maj9 in a rootless shape with the 3rd on the bottom, the position that sits closest to your last chord.
- Then test it in random order among other chords: recall under time pressure is what sticks.
Keep each session short and frequent and C#maj9 will become automatic.
Play C#maj9 in a game
In ChordRunner every correct chord moves your runner forward. Plug in a MIDI keyboard or let the microphone listen to your piano. Major and minor 9ths have their own level, "Ninth Chords".
Play the demoCommon questions
How do you play C#maj9 on the piano?
Press C#, E#, G#, B# and D# together. Left hand plays C# B# (fingers 5 and 1), right hand E# G# D# (1, 2, 4).
Is C#maj9 the same as E#m7?
Not quite: E#m7 (E# G# B# D#) is only the upper part of C#maj9. Add C# underneath and you have the full C#maj9.
Where is C#maj9 used?
C#maj9 is the I chord of C# major and the IV chord of Ab major (as Dbmaj9). It replaces C#maj7 when a song wants a softer, wider sound.
Can I practise C#maj9 with a MIDI keyboard or a real piano?
Yes. In ChordRunner a USB MIDI keyboard is detected automatically, and an acoustic or digital piano works through the microphone. The game checks that C#, E#, G#, B# and D# sound together.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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