Here are some useful nine sharp five chord shapes shown in the first four frets. As with previous chord types, learn each shape and then transpose it to all keys.
As with many altered chords, the 9#5 is used here to create tension before moving back to a dominant seventh which contains less tension. Tension and release is an essential element in all styles of music.
A Ninth flat five chord is created by flattening the 5th degree of any ninth chord. For example, a C9b5 chord contains the notes C, E, Gb, Bb and D (1, 3, b5, b7 and 9). The following diagrams demonstrate some common open 9b5 chord shapes.