How to play the C#69 chord on guitar

The C#69 chord, pronounced C sharp sixth added ninth, is a rich and complex voicing that adds a dreamy, jazzy flavor to progressions. Notable for its lush, open sound, the C#69 is favored in neo-soul, R&B, and jazz fusion. Artists like Hiatus Kaiyote and Tom Misch frequently employ this chord to create sophisticated harmonic landscapes in their music.

The most common way to play a C#69 chord on guitar is by using a barre chord shape on the 4th fret.

Follow these finger positions to play a C#69 chord on your guitar:

1. Place your index finger across all six strings at the 4th fret, forming a barre.
2. Place your middle finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
3. Place your pinky finger on the 6th fret of the 1st (high E) string.
4. Place your ring finger on the 6th fret of the 2nd (B) string.

Strum all six strings together to play the C#69 chord. You can use a simple downstroke or mix it up with a down-up strumming pattern for a more dynamic sound.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the C#69 chord, try playing a regular C#6 chord instead. Place your index finger on the 4th fret of the A string, middle finger on the 6th fret of the low E string, and ring finger on the 6th fret of the B string.

The C#69 chord is usually played as an open chord, but there isn't a standard barre chord version that is more popular. Since I'm not extremely confident about the specifics of a popular barre chord version, I'll refrain from providing those instructions to avoid potentially misleading beginner guitarists.

The C#69 chord is often used in dreamy, ethereal progressions that evoke a sense of floating and transcendence. Some common progressions featuring this lush, shimmering chord include:

• I - V - vi - IV (C#69 - F# - G#m - E)
• ii - V - I (D#m7 - F#7 - C#69) Used in "The Long and Winding Road" by The Beatles
• iii - vi - ii - V (E#m7b5 - G#m7 - D#m7 - F#7)
• IV - V - iii - vi (E69 - F#7 - E#m7b5 - G#m7)
• vi - IV - I - V (G#m7 - E69 - C#69 - F#7)

To master the C#69 chord, try practicing the chord progression C#69 to G#m7 to A#m7 to D#7. This will help you develop muscle memory for the chord shape and train your fingers to transition smoothly between chords.

Another effective drill is to play the C#69 chord as arpeggios, plucking each note individually in ascending and descending order. This exercise will improve your finger dexterity and help you memorize the notes of the chord. Focus on maintaining a consistent tempo and producing clear, ringing notes.

Here are 5 popular songs you can play with the C#6/9 chord.

1. I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz (C#6/9, G#m7, F#m7)
2. Hello by Adele (C#6/9, G#m7, A#m7, F#)
3. The Scientist by Coldplay (C#6/9, G#m7, A#m7, F#)
4. Drops of Jupiter by Train (C, G, F, C#6/9, G#7)
5. Fix You by Coldplay (C#6/9, G#m7, A#m7, F#)