C♯m7 Chord on Guitar
Notes C♯ E G♯ B. Start with C♯m7 on the open E string (x 4 2 4 2 0): ring on string 5 fret 4, index on string 4 fret 2, middle on string 2 fret 2, pinky on string 3 fret 4.
Chord · C♯m7 minor 7th
C♯m7 with the open E string · x 4 2 4 2 0
open strings
Am7-shape barre (fret 4) · x 4 6 4 5 4
barre, movable
Em7-shape barre (fret 9) · 9 11 9 9 9 9
barre, movable
1 C♯♭3 E5 G♯♭7 B
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 4
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 2
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 2 (B): middle (2), 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): index (1), fret 4
- 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): index (1), fret 9
- 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 |
| ♭7 | B | minor 7th |
Formula 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 (minor 7th). Same chord as D♭m7: same pitches, same shapes.
Also written C#m7, C#min7, C sharp minor 7th, D♭m7, D flat minor 7th.
More on this chord type: Minor 7th chords · 7th chords explained
Capo shapes that sound as C♯m7
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Am7 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.
Easier stand-in
C♯m
The easy C♯m (x x 6 6 5 4) has the same root and 3rd without the 7th, so it is the quick fix when the barre is too much.
Keys that contain C♯m7
| Key | C♯m7 is the |
|---|---|
| C♯ minor | i7 |
| F♯ minor | v7 |
| G♯ minor | iv7 |
| E major | vi7 |
| B major | ii7 |
| A major | iii7 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing C♯m7: what goes wrong
C♯m7 in E, B and A
C♯m7 is the vi7 chord of E major, the ii7 of B major and the iii7 of A major. In C♯ minor it is the i7. C♯m7, F♯7, B is the ii–V–I in B major.
The Am7 shape at fret 4
In x 4 6 4 5 4 the index barres strings 5 to 1 at fret 4, with the ring finger on string 4 at fret 6 and the middle finger on string 2 at fret 5. It is open Am7 (x 0 2 0 1 0) moved up four frets.
Capo 4 and an Am7 shape
With a capo on fret 4 the open Am7 shape sounds as C♯m7. That only works if the other chords of the song are also played as shapes relative to the capo.
Related chords
Learn and practise C♯m7
- Metronomepractise the change to C♯m7 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♯m7?
C♯, E, G♯, B: the 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7 of the C♯m7 minor 7th chord. D♭m7 is the same chord spelt with a flat.
What is the difference between C♯m and C♯m7?
C♯m7 adds B, the flat 7th: C♯, E, G♯, B. In x 4 6 4 5 4 the B is on string 3 at fret 4.