What notes are in the C♯m chord?

C♯m (C♯ minor) contains C♯, E, G♯ — formula 1 ♭3 5.

How do you play C♯m on guitar?

A common shape is x42120 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.

What scale goes with C♯m?

Good choices to solo over C♯m: C♯ Aeolian (Minor), C♯ Dorian, C♯ Minor pentatonic.

What key is C♯m in?

C♯m is diatonic in E major (vi), A major (iii), B major (ii), C♯ minor (i), F♯ minor (v), G♯ minor (iv).

C♯m Chord on Guitar

C♯m is the C♯ minor chord — 3 notes (C♯, E, G♯) built from the formula 1 ♭3 5. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: C♯ · E · G♯Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

C♯m: Chord shapes (open & barre)

open position
fret 1
fret 4
fret 6
fret 9
fret 11

C♯m: Triad voicings (3 strings)

bass: R
bass: R
bass: R
bass: R
bass: ♭3
bass: ♭3
bass: ♭3
bass: ♭3
bass: 5
bass: 5
bass: 5
bass: 5

Keys that contain C♯m

Scales to play over C♯m

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain C♯, E, G♯.

Other C♯ chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Minor chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the C♯m chord?: C♯m (C♯ minor) contains C♯, E, G♯ — formula 1 ♭3 5.
How do you play C♯m on guitar?: A common shape is x42120 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with C♯m?: Good choices to solo over C♯m: C♯ Aeolian (Minor), C♯ Dorian, C♯ Minor pentatonic.
What key is C♯m in?: C♯m is diatonic in E major (vi), A major (iii), B major (ii), C♯ minor (i), F♯ minor (v), G♯ minor (iv).