C# major chord on piano

How to play C# major on piano

1. Find C♯, the first black key of a group of two.
2. Put your right thumb (finger 1) on C♯.
3. Count four half steps up, black and white keys alike, to E♯ (the white key usually called F). Rest your middle finger (3) there.
4. Count three more half steps to G♯ for your little finger (5).
5. Press all three keys together.
6. For the left hand, play the same keys with fingers 5, 3 and 1, or play C♯ an octave lower with your little finger.

Inversions

1. Root position

   C♯, E♯, G♯

   Right hand 1, 3, 5; left hand 5, 3, 1.

   Play

2. 1st inversion

   E♯, G♯, C♯

   Right hand 1, 2, 5; left hand 5, 3, 1.

   Play

3. 2nd inversion

   G♯, C♯, E♯

   Right hand 1, 3, 5; left hand 5, 2, 1.

   Play

The shape of C# major

C# major is black, white, black: E♯ is the only white key, the one usually called F. Eb major and Ab major have the same pattern.

C# major is built from the C♯ major scale: take its 1st, 3rd and 5th notes, skipping every other note.

1. C♯1
2. D♯2
3. E♯3
4. F♯4
5. G♯5
6. A♯6
7. B♯7

Smooth changes from C# major

Jumping from one root position chord to the next moves the whole hand. The right inversion keeps shared notes still and moves the others the shortest way. Below are the chords built on the 4th and 5th notes of C# major's own key: F# and G#.

• From C# to F#, play F# in 2nd inversion (C♯–F♯–A♯): C♯ stays, E♯ moves up a half step to F♯ and G♯ moves up two half steps to A♯.

  Play F#

• From C# to G#, play G# in 1st inversion (B♯–D♯–G♯): C♯ moves down a half step to B♯ (the white key usually called C), E♯ moves down two half steps to D♯ and G♯ stays.

  Play G#

C# major on the staff and on guitar

Keys with C# major in them

• D♭ majorID♭, E♭m, Fm, G♭, A♭, B♭m, Cdim
• C♯ majorIC♯, D♯m, E♯m, F♯, G♯, A♯m, B♯dim
• G♭ majorVG♭, A♭m, B♭m, C♭, D♭, E♭m, Fdim
• F♯ majorVF♯, G♯m, A♯m, B, C♯, D♯m, E♯dim
• A♭ majorIVA♭, B♭m, Cm, D♭, E♭, Fm, Gdim
• E♭ minorVIIE♭m, Fdim, G♭, A♭m, B♭m, C♭, D♭
• F minorVIFm, Gdim, A♭, B♭m, Cm, D♭, E♭
• F♯ minorVFrom F♯ harmonic minor, which raises the scale's 7th note a half step so this chord leads back to F♯.
• B♭ minorIIIB♭m, Cdim, D♭, E♭m, Fm, G♭, A♭

Progressions that use it

• I–IV–V, in C♯ major

  1. IC♯
  2. IVF♯
  3. VG♯

• I–V–vi–IV, in C♯ major

  1. IC♯
  2. VG♯
  3. viA♯m
  4. IVF♯

• vi–IV–I–V, in C♯ major

  1. viA♯m
  2. IVF♯
  3. IC♯
  4. VG♯

• I–vi–IV–V (the 50s progression), in C♯ major

  1. IC♯
  2. viA♯m
  3. IVF♯
  4. VG♯