F#9: guitar chord voicings, inversions, scales and arpeggios

F#9 (9) is an interactive GuitarArcanum page with chord formula, intervals, voicings, inversions, triads, pentatonic patterns, scales and arpeggios on the fretboard.

Chord formula

Interval formula: 1 3 5 b7 9. A dominant 9th is a plain 7th chord with the 9th added on top, common everywhere from funk rhythm to jazz comping. It keeps the dominant function of a 7th — it still resolves up a fourth — but sounds fuller.

Chord tones

The pull comes from the tritone between the major 3rd and the b7. The 9th is a color tone and doesn't affect the function. The 5th matters least here, so it's the first note to drop.

Sound character

Fuller and richer than a plain 7th without adding tension — the classic sound of a funk or soul rhythm part.

Harmonic function

A dominant. It resolves up a fourth to the tonic (C9 → F). The 9th doesn't change that function, it only adds color.

Typical progressions

  • F#9 → F
  • G#m9 – C#9 – F#maj9
  • C#roove on a single C9

Guitar voicing advice

The go-to shape has the root on the 5th string — the classic x3233x. Drop the 5th, or leave the root in the bass and comp 3 – b7 – 9.

Compatible scales for F#9

Other chord qualities on the F# root

Compare this chord with other qualities sharing the same root.