F#m9 Minor 9th Chord

Minor 7th chord with an added 9th. Rich texture used in neo-soul and R&B.

F#m9 Chord — Quick Answer & Harmonic Definition

The F#m9 (Minor 9th) chord consists of the notes F#, A, C#, E, G#. It is constructed from the root note F# using the minor 9th interval formula (0–3–7–10–14 semitones).

Formula: 0 – 3 – 7 – 10 – 14
Notes
F# – A – C# – E – G#
Intervals (semitones)
0 – 3 – 7 – 10 – 14
Type
Extended

F#m9 on Piano

Press highlighted keys simultaneously to play the F#m9 chord.

R
F# (Root (R))
2
A (Minor 3rd (♭3))
3
C# (Perfect 5th)
4
E (Minor 7th (♭7))
5
G# (Major 9th)

F#m9 on Guitar

The F#m9 chord uses notes F#, A, C#, E, G#. Build a voicing by finding these notes on any strings — root on the 6th string is a common starting point for barre chord shapes.

Interval Analysis

Degree Interval Name Semitones Note in F#
Root Root (R) 0 F#
3rd Minor 3rd (♭3) 3 A
5th Perfect 5th 7 C#
7th Minor 7th (♭7) 10 E
9th Major 9th 14 G#

About the F# Minor 9th Chord

The F#m9 chord (F# Minor 9th) consists of 5 notes: F#, A, C#, E, G#. Minor 7th chord with an added 9th. Rich texture used in neo-soul and R&B.

To build any minor 9th chord, apply intervals of 0, 3, 7, 10, 14 semitones above the root. Starting from F#: the notes land on F#, A, C#, E, G#.

Playing F#m9 on Piano

Press F#, A, C#, E, G# simultaneously. In root position, F# is lowest. First inversion places A in the bass for a lighter sound; second inversion uses C# as the bass note.

Common Chord Progressions Using F#m9

  • I–IV–V: F#m9 – Bm9 – C#m9 (blues and rock)
  • I–V–vi–IV: F#m9 – C# – D#m – B (pop staple)
  • I–vi–IV–V: F#m9 – D#m – B – C# (50s progression)

The F#m9 Chord in Context

The F#m9 (Minor 9th) chord features a distinctive minor 7th chord with an added 9th. rich texture used in neo-soul and r&b. built from the intervals 0–3–7–10–14. It provides rich harmonic color and tension across pop, jazz, classical, and contemporary compositions.

Other F# Chords

F#
Major
F#m
Minor
F#7
Dominant 7th
F#maj7
Major 7th
F#m7
Minor 7th
F#dim
Diminished

Minor 9th Chord in All 12 Keys

Cm9 C#m9 Dm9 D#m9 Em9 Fm9 F#m9 Gm9 G#m9 Am9 A#m9 Bm9
Virtual Piano
Play F#m9 on piano
Virtual Guitar
See on the fretboard
F# Scale
Notes that fit F#m9
Songs
Find songs using F#m9

Knowledge Base & FAQs

F#m9 Chord — Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our browser-based Web Audio engine, instruments, and music theory workspace.

What notes are in the F#m9 chord?

The F# Minor 9th chord contains: F#, A, C#, E, G#.

These notes are derived by applying the minor 9th interval formula (0–3–7–10–14 semitones) to the root note F#.

What is the F#m9 chord used for?

Minor 7th chord with an added 9th.

Rich texture used in neo-soul and R&B. The F#m9 chord is used across pop, rock, jazz, and classical music. As the I chord in the key of F# major, it functions as the most stable resting point in progressions.

How do you play F#m9 on piano?

On piano, play F#, A, C#, E, G# simultaneously.

In root position, F# is the lowest note. Inversions move the bass note up — first inversion has A lowest, second inversion has C# lowest.

How many notes are in a minor 9th chord?

A minor 9th chord has 5 notes: F#, A, C#, E, G# (in F#).

It is an extended chord with 5 or more notes.

What is the difference between F# major and F# minor?

The F# major chord (F#–A#–C#) uses a major third (4 semitones), giving it a bright, happy sound.

The F# minor chord (F#–A–C#) uses a minor third (3 semitones), giving it a darker, emotional sound.

What key does F#m9 belong to?

F#m9 naturally serves as the I chord in the key of F# major.

It also appears as IV in the key of C# major, and as V in the key of B major.

Can I play F#m9 on ukulele?

Yes.

The ukulele uses GCEA tuning with 4 strings. The F#m9 chord notes (F#, A, C#, E, G#) can be fretted on a ukulele, though the shapes differ from guitar due to the 4-string layout and shorter scale.

What chords go well with F#m9?

In the key of F# major, F#m9 pairs naturally with B major (IV), C# major (V), and D#m (vi).

The classic I–IV–V (F#m9–B–C#) is the foundation of blues, country, and rock.

What is a chord inversion of F#m9?

An inversion places a non-root note in the bass.

F#m9 root position: F# in bass. First inversion: A in bass. Second inversion: C# in bass. Inversions create smoother bass line movement without changing the harmony.

How do I memorize the notes in a minor 9th chord?

Remember the formula: 0–3–7–10–14 semitones from root.

For F#m9: start on F#, add 3 semitones, then 7 semitones, then 10 semitones, then 14 semitones. Practicing this across all 12 roots builds instant recognition of any minor 9th chord.