Root position C♯m
C♯ – E – G♯
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
C♯ Minor Chord on Piano
C♯m C♯ E G♯ Formula 1 b3 5 3 notes
Also written D♭ minor: the same keys under another name.
Notes
What notes are in the C♯ Minor chord?
The C♯ Minor chord has 3 notes: C♯, E, G♯. Start on C♯, go up 3 half steps for the minor third, then 4 more for the perfect fifth: only the middle note differs from the major chord.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| C♯ | Root | 0 |
| E | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| G♯ | Perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play C♯ Minor
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♯m/E
E – G♯ – C♯
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion C♯m/G♯
G♯ – C♯ – E
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with C♯ Minor
Every key where C♯m 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♯ Minor chord?
The C♯ Minor chord (C♯m) is made of C♯, E, G♯. Its formula is 1 b3 5 - the root, then the intervals of a minor chord.
How do you play C♯m 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♯m?
root position C♯m (C♯ E G♯); 1st inversion C♯m/E (E G♯ C♯); 2nd inversion C♯m/G♯ (G♯ C♯ E).
Is C♯ Minor the same as D♭ minor?
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♯m and build a progression on it
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