Ways to play C♯m
Lowest on the neck first. Tap a shape to put it on the fretboard above and hear it. The numbers are fingers (1 is your index), × means leave that string out, and ○ means let it ring open.
What's in C♯m
A minor chord lowers the 3rd by a half step: root, minor 3rd (three half steps) and perfect 5th. C♯ minor is C♯, E and G♯. Next to C♯ major, the only note that moves is the 3rd, E♯ down to E.
| Note | Formula | Interval from C♯ |
|---|---|---|
| C♯ | 1 | Root |
| E | ♭3 | Minor 3rd |
| G♯ | 5 | Perfect 5th |
Darker and more inward than major. In a major key the ii, iii and vi chords are minor; in a minor key the i and usually the iv are.
The key of C♯ minor
Four sharps, the relative minor of E. C♯m is usually played as the A-shape minor barre at the 4th fret.
The seven chords built from the C♯ minor scale:
Songs in C♯ minor
- Moonlight Sonata (first movement), Ludwig van Beethoven
Keys that use C♯m
Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of C♯, E and G♯, and the chord's Roman numeral in each.
| Key | C♯m is the |
|---|---|
| C♯ minor | i |
| G♯ minor | iv |
| F♯ minor | v |
| B major | ii |
| E major | vi |
| A major | iii |
Progressions to try
i–iv–v in C♯ minor
Minor-key blues and folk. Swap the v for a major V when you want a stronger pull home.
i–VI–III–VII in C♯ minor
The minor-key cousin of I–V–vi–IV: the same four chords, started from the minor one.
Related chords
The relative major is E, which shares its key signature. The parallel major is D♭, same root with the 3rd raised.
Other chords on C♯: