F#9 Chord (F# dominant 9th) on Guitar
F#9 (F# dominant 9th) is made of the notes F# – A# – C# – E – G#. The easiest guitar fingering is 212120 (low E to high e; x = muted, 0 = open). It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Easiest shape
Alternative shape
How to play F#9
- Press the 6th string (low E) at fret 2 (F#).
- Press the 5th string (A) at fret 1 (A#).
- Press the 4th string (D) at fret 2 (E).
- Press the 3rd string (G) at fret 1 (G#).
- Press the 2nd string (B) at fret 2 (C#).
- Play the 1st string (high e) open (E).
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string (low E) | 2 | F# | R |
| 5th string (A) | 1 | A# | 3 |
| 4th string (D) | 2 | E | b7 |
| 3rd string (G) | 1 | G# | 9 |
| 2nd string (B) | 2 | C# | 5 |
| 1st string (high e) | 0 (open) | E | b7 |
What is a F# dominant 9th chord?
A dominant 9th chord stacks a major ninth on top of a dominant 7th chord. It contains root, major third, (fifth), minor seventh and ninth.
Notes and formula. F#9 contains F#, A#, C#, E, G#. Counted from the root F#, that is R (root), 3 (major 3rd), 5 (perfect 5th), b7 (minor 7th), 9 (major 9th). It is also written Gb9; the two names sound identical and the name used depends on the key of the song.
Sound. Funky, jazzy and rich. It is a dominant 7th with extra colour.
Where it is used. Core chord in funk, soul, blues and jazz, such as the classic "James Brown" style stabs.
Tips for playing F#9
You usually skip the fifth to keep the shape playable. Mute strings you do not need with the side of your fingers.
Common mistake: Strumming all six strings. 9th chords sound tighter when you play only the strings in the shape.
Scales to play over F#9
Related chords
F#9 chord FAQ
What notes are in a F#9 chord?
F#9 (F# dominant 9th) contains the notes F#, A#, C#, E, G#. The formula is R–3–5–b7–9 relative to the root F#.
How do you play F#9 on guitar?
The most common shape for F#9 is 212120, read from the low E string to the high e string (x = muted, 0 = open, numbers = frets). It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Is F#9 an easy guitar chord?
It is rated intermediate. It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Is F#9 the same as Gb9?
Yes. F# and Gb are enharmonic: they are the same pitch with different names, so F#9 and Gb9 sound identical on guitar. The name used depends on the key of the song.
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