Root position C♯
C♯ – E♯ – G♯
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
C♯ Major Chord on Piano
C♯ C♯ E♯ G♯ Formula 1 3 5 3 notes
Also written D♭ major: the same keys under another name.
Notes
What notes are in the C♯ Major chord?
The C♯ Major chord has 3 notes: C♯, E♯, G♯. Start on C♯, go up 4 half steps for the major third, then 3 more for the perfect fifth. Spelled by the rules of harmony, E♯ is the F key on the keyboard.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| C♯ | Root | 0 |
| E♯ (the F key) | Major 3rd | 4 |
| G♯ | Perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play C♯ Major
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion C♯/F
E♯ – G♯ – C♯
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion C♯/G♯
G♯ – C♯ – E♯
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
In real music
Songs that use C♯ Major
Pieces from the GOONS sheet music library where C♯ holds for at least two bars of our arrangement (read from the score, root in the bass).
Where it lives
Keys and scales with C♯ Major
Every key where C♯ is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the C♯ Major chord?
The C♯ Major chord (C♯) is made of C♯, E♯, G♯. Its formula is 1 3 5 - the root, then the intervals of a major chord.
How do you play C♯ on the piano?
Put your right thumb on C♯ and play the other notes with fingers 1-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of C♯?
root position C♯ (C♯ E♯ G♯); 1st inversion C♯/F (E♯ G♯ C♯); 2nd inversion C♯/G♯ (G♯ C♯ E♯).
Is C♯ Major the same as D♭ major?
On the piano, yes: the same keys. The name changes with the key you are in - sharps in sharp keys, flats in flat keys.
Play it for real
Hold C♯ and build a progression on it
The GOONS piano studio has up to 88 keys, real piano samples, MIDI keyboard support, chord pads in any key and a sequencer. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.