C# Minor 9th (C#m9)

Also written as Db Minor 9th (Db and C# are the same key).

1+b3+5+b7+9
EBC#G#D#
4 4
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Notes in C# Minor 9th

C# (root)EG#BD#

Inversions

Same notes as C# Minor 9th, with a different chord tone as the lowest note. Useful for smoother movement between chords instead of jumping around the keyboard.

Root position

C# in the bass

EBC#G#D#

1st inversion

E in the bass

EBG#D#C#

2nd inversion

G# in the bass

BEG#D#C#

3rd inversion

B in the bass

BED#C#G#

4th inversion

D# in the bass

EBD#C#G#

Open voicings

A close-position chord like C# Minor 9th can sound cluttered in the middle of the keyboard. Jazz players open it up by dropping one note down an octave, spreading the same notes wider without changing the chord.

Drop 2

B on the bottom

EC#G#D#

Drop 3

G# on the bottom

EBC#D#

The notes C#, E, G#, B and D# make up C# Minor 9th.

A minor seventh chord with a ninth added softens the mood even further into something smooth and atmospheric. Jazz, R&B and lo-fi styles all reach for it whenever a minor chord needs to feel rich rather than sparse.

Difficulty: Advanced. Category: Extended chords. Click any key on the diagram above to hear that single note.