D7#9 is a D7 chord with one extra, deliberately clashing note on top: the sharp ninth. Spelled correctly, that note is E#, the same pitch as F, and it sits a half step from the F# third below it. Major third and something that sounds like a minor third, in the same chord: that is the gritty, bluesy sound guitarists call the Hendrix chord. The shape is a compact four string grip in fifth position, and it is easier than it looks.
D7#9 chord: notes and shapes at a glance
- Name: D dominant seventh sharp nine
- Symbol: D7#9
- Notes: D, F#, A, C, E#
Each shape below is written from the thickest string to the thinnest: a
number is the fret, 0 an open string, x a string you
do not play. New to this? See how to read chord diagrams.
| Shape | Frets, low E to high E | Notes, low to high | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| D7#9, the Hendrix shape | x5456x | D F# C E# without A | The classic: root on the fifth string, the sharp nine on top. No fifth and no high E, on purpose. |
| D7#9, low strings | 10 9 10 10 x x | D F# C E# without A | The same four notes one string set lower, root on the low E. Darker; good with distortion. |
| D7#9, no root | xx4565 | F# C E# A without D | F#, C, E# and A on the top four strings, with no D at all. For when the bass player has the root. |
Read each diagram from the thickest string on the left to the thinnest on the right. A cross means the string is not played, a circle means it rings open.
D7#9 on the neck: every D, F#, A, C, F
Standard tuning, frets 0 to 12. The highlighted notes are the notes of D7#9: any shape you build from them, anywhere on the neck, is still D7#9.
How to play x5456x
- First finger on the D string, fret 4. That note is F#, the third.
- Second finger on the A string, fret 5. That note is D, the root.
- Third finger on the G string, fret 5. That note is C, the seventh.
- Fourth finger on the B string, fret 6. That note is E#, the sharp nine.
Two strings must stay silent. The tip of the second finger leans lightly on the low E, and the soft underside of the fourth finger touches the high E. Then you can strum all six strings hard and only four will speak, which is exactly how this chord is played in funk and rock.
How the chord is built
| Chord | Notes | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| D7 | D, F#, A, C | The dominant seventh, the base |
| D9 | D, F#, A, C, E | A natural ninth: smooth, soulful |
| D7#9 | D, F#, A, C, E# | The ninth raised a half step: rough, bluesy |
Compare the shapes: D9 is x5455x, D7#9 is x5456x. One finger moves one fret on the B string, and the chord goes from
polished to snarling. The fifth, A, is left out of both because it adds
weight without adding color.
Why E# and not F? Because the note is a raised ninth, built on E, not a third built on F. A chord cannot hold two thirds, so the name reflects the job. On the fretboard you play F; on paper you write E#.
Where D7#9 shows up
In theory, any 7#9 is a dominant chord with an extra tension, the kind of V chord that pulls hard toward G. In practice, rock, funk and blues players use it the other way round: as the home chord of a riff in D, hammered out with muted strums between the hits.
To hear it in context, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' If You Have to Ask is built on D7#9 played in exactly the x5456x shape. Listen to how short the chord is: the left hand releases pressure right after each hit, and the muted strings carry the groove.
| Practice step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Hit and release | Strum x5456x once, then relax the fingers so the strings mute without leaving them. |
| Muted sixteenths | Keep the strumming hand moving down and up while the left hand stays relaxed; squeeze only on the accents. |
| Slide in | Start the shape one fret lower (x4345x) and slide up into x5456x on the beat. |
Frequently asked questions
How do you play D7#9 on guitar?
What notes are in a D7#9 chord?
Why is it called the Hendrix chord?
Is D7#9 major or minor?
Can I move the x5456x shape to other chords?
Who made this
Guitar Social Club is the work of Yohann Abbou, a guitar teacher in Paris who teaches adults. Every shape on this page is written string by string and checked against standard tuning, and the diagrams are drawn from those same fret numbers. The rest of our free guitar tools, including the chord finder, work the same way.
More about Yohann on his page, and about why Guitar Social Club exists.