Db 9sus4 (Db9sus4)

Also written as C# 9sus4 (C# and Db are the same key).

1+4+5+b7+9
BC#F#G#D#
4 4
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Notes in Db 9sus4

C# (root)F#G#BD#

Inversions

Same notes as Db 9sus4, 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

BC#F#G#D#

1st inversion

F# in the bass

BF#G#D#C#

2nd inversion

G# in the bass

BG#D#C#F#

3rd inversion

B in the bass

BD#C#F#G#

4th inversion

D# in the bass

BD#C#F#G#

Open voicings

A close-position chord like Db 9sus4 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

BC#F#G#D#

Drop 3

G# on the bottom

BG#C#F#D#

Db 9sus4 consists of C#, F#, G#, B and D#, played at the same time.

A 7sus4 chord with a ninth added on top. The suspended fourth keeps the chord open and undecided between major and minor, while the ninth fills out the top end. Gospel and modern jazz piano lean on it for vamps that need movement without committing to either quality.

Difficulty: Intermediate. Category: Extended chords. Click any highlighted key on the diagram above, or tab to it and press Enter, to hear that single note. Inversions mark the bass note with a contrasting outline.