C♯ Chord on Guitar
Notes C♯ E♯ G♯. Start with the 4-string C♯ (x x 6 6 6 4), then the A-shape barre at fret 4. C♯ and D♭ are the same chord.
Chord · C♯ major
Easy C♯ (4 strings) · x x 6 6 6 4
movable, no open strings
A-shape barre (fret 4) · x 4 6 6 6 4
barre, movable
E-shape barre (fret 9) · 9 11 11 10 9 9
barre, movable
1 C♯3 E♯5 G♯
- Barre: ring finger flat across strings 4 to 2 at fret 6
- 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): ring (3), fret 6
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 6
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 4
- 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): ring (3), fret 6
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 6
- 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): middle (2), fret 10
- 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♯ | major 3rd |
| 5 | G♯ | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 3 5 (major). Same chord as D♭: same pitches, same shapes.
Also written C#, C sharp major, D♭, D flat major.
More on this chord type: Barre chords
Capo shapes that sound as C♯
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
C shape + capo 1
A shape + capo 4
G shape + capo 6
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♯
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| F♯ major I–V–vi–IV | F♯ – C♯ – D♯m – B | |
| F♯ major I–IV–V–I | F♯ – B – C♯ – F♯ |
Keys that contain C♯
| Key | C♯ is the |
|---|---|
| F♯ major | V |
| D♭ major (written D♭) | I |
| A♭ major (written D♭) | IV |
| F minor (written D♭) | VI |
| B♭ minor (written D♭) | III |
| E♭ minor (written D♭) | VII |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing C♯: what goes wrong
C♯ or C♯m?
Chord sheets in the key of A use C♯m (the iii chord), not C♯ major. Check for the "m" before learning the major shape.
Same grip as B, two frets up
The 4-string C♯ is the 4-string B moved up two frets: index on string 1 at fret 4, ring finger flat across strings 4, 3 and 2 at fret 6.
Related chords
Learn and practise C♯
- Metronomepractise the change to C♯ 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♯?
C♯, E♯, G♯: the 1, 3, 5 of the C♯ major chord. D♭ is the same chord spelt with a flat.
Is C♯ the same as D♭?
Yes. C♯ E♯ G♯ and D♭ F A♭ are the same three pitches and use the same shapes. The name depends on the key: D♭ in flat keys such as A♭ major, C♯ in sharp keys such as F♯ major.