Sad pop progression
in E major
Piano chord · also written D♭m
C♯ Minor Piano Chord (C♯m)
The C♯ Minor chord on piano is made of the notes C♯, E and G♯. Sad, dark, and melancholic. The second most common chord type.
Tap any key to hear it.
What notes are in C♯ Minor?
3 notes, built 1 – ♭3 – 5 up from C♯.
- Notes
- C♯ – E – G♯
- Formula
- 1 – ♭3 – 5
- Semitones from the root
- 0 – 3 – 7
- Symbol
- C♯m
- Same keys as
- D♭m (D♭ – F♭ – A♭)
- Chord type
- Minor, 3 notes
How to play C♯ Minor on piano
- Right hand: C♯ (1), E (3), G♯ (5). Fingers 1 – 3 – 5, thumb on C♯.
- Left hand: C♯ (5), E (3), G♯ (1). Fingers 5 – 3 – 1, little finger on C♯.
Fingers are numbered 1 (thumb) to 5 (little finger) on both hands.
C♯ Minor inversions
Each inversion puts a different note of the chord in the bass. Written as a slash chord: C♯m/E, C♯m/G♯.
Can you find C♯ Minor?
Tap the notes on the keyboard, then check. Six chords, starting with this one.
1 / 6 Tap the notes of C♯ Minor (C♯m)
Score 0
Any octave, any order. Each key you tap plays.
What key is C♯ Minor in?
The keys whose scale contains every note of C♯m, with the chord’s Roman numeral in each.
Major keys
- B majorii
- A majoriii
- E majorvi
Minor keys
- C♯ minori
- G♯ minoriv
- F♯ minorv
C♯ Minor chord FAQ
What notes are in the C♯ Minor chord?
C♯ Minor (C♯m) has 3 notes: C♯, E and G♯. Its formula is 1 – ♭3 – 5, counted up from C♯.
How do you play C♯ Minor on the piano?
Put your right thumb on C♯ and play C♯, E and G♯ with fingers 1 – 3 – 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 – 3 – 1, little finger on C♯.
Is C♯ Minor the same as D♭ Minor?
On the piano, yes: D♭m (D♭, F♭, A♭) uses exactly the same keys as C♯m (C♯, E, G♯). Which name is used depends on the key of the piece; C♯m is the more common spelling.
What are the inversions of C♯ Minor?
1st inversion: E, G♯, C♯ (C♯m/E). 2nd inversion: G♯, C♯, E (C♯m/G♯).
What key is C♯ Minor in?
C♯m belongs to B major (ii), A major (iii), E major (vi), C♯ minor (i), G♯ minor (iv) and F♯ minor (v).