C♯m Chord on Guitar
Notes C♯ E G♯. Start with the 4-string C♯m (x x 6 6 5 4): index on string 1 fret 4, middle on string 2 fret 5, ring on string 4 and pinky on string 3 at fret 6.
Chord · C♯m minor
Easy C♯m (4 strings) · x x 6 6 5 4
movable, no open strings
C♯m with the open E string · x 4 2 1 2 0
open strings
Am-shape barre (fret 4) · x 4 6 6 5 4
barre, movable
Em-shape barre (fret 9) · 9 11 11 9 9 9
barre, movable
1 C♯♭3 E5 G♯
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 6
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 6
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 4
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 2
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 1
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): open
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 4
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 4
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 6
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 6
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 4
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 9
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 9
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 11
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 11
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 9
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 9
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 9
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from C♯ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯ | root |
| ♭3 | E | minor 3rd |
| 5 | G♯ | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 ♭3 5 (minor). Same chord as D♭m: same pitches, same shapes.
Also written C#m, C#min, C sharp minor, D♭m, D flat minor.
More on this chord type: Barre chords
Capo shapes that sound as C♯m
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Am shape + capo 4
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Progressions with C♯m
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| C♯ minor i–VI–III–VII | C♯m – A – E – B | |
| E major I–V–vi–IV | E – B – C♯m – A | |
| E major I–vi–IV–V | E – C♯m – A – B | |
| C♯ minor i–VII–VI–VII | C♯m – B – A – B | |
| F♯ minor i–iv–v–i | F♯m – Bm – C♯m – F♯m |
Keys that contain C♯m
| Key | C♯m is the |
|---|---|
| C♯ minor | i |
| F♯ minor | v |
| G♯ minor | iv |
| E major | vi |
| B major | ii |
| A major | iii |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing C♯m: what goes wrong
C♯m in E, B and A
C♯m is the vi chord of E major, the ii of B major and the iii of A major. In C♯ minor it is the i chord, with F♯m as iv and G♯m as v.
The shape with the open E
In x 4 2 1 2 0 the ring finger is on string 2 fret 2, the index on string 3 fret 1, the middle finger on string 4 fret 2 and the pinky on string 5 fret 4. The high e string stays open and is the chord’s 3rd, E.
Capo 4 and an Am shape
The barre x 4 6 6 5 4 is the open Am shape moved up four frets. With a capo on fret 4 the open Am shape sounds as C♯m, which only works if the other chords of the song are also played as shapes relative to the capo.
Related chords
Learn and practise C♯m
- Metronomepractise the change to C♯m at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in C♯m?
C♯, E, G♯: the 1, ♭3, 5 of the C♯m minor chord. D♭m is the same chord spelt with a flat.
What is the easiest C♯m chord?
x x 6 6 5 4: four strings, one finger each, no barre. Strings 6 and 5 are not played.
Is C♯m the same as D♭m?
Yes, on the guitar. D♭m is the same chord spelled for flat keys, so the same fingering and the same sound.