C♯ natural minor
Four sharps, F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯. Seven notes: C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B. Try the key’s seven chords in different places on the neck. Press a shape to hear it and see its notes.
Across one chord in different positions. Down the chords in one position. | ||||
| iMainC♯mC♯ · E · G♯ | ||||
| ii°D♯°D♯ · F♯ · A | ||||
| IIIMainEE · G♯ · B | ||||
| ivF♯mF♯ · A · C♯ | ||||
| vG♯mG♯ · B · D♯ | ||||
| VIMainAA · C♯ · E | ||||
| VIIMainBB · D♯ · F♯ |
Sounds good
Three patterns to try
Walk up to F♯m. Strum C♯m, pick D♯ and E on the way up, land on F♯m. Listen to how the bass connects the chords.
Triads on the top three strings. Three notes, three places, all C♯m. Try them when a full six-string chord feels too busy.
- LowFrets 0–2
- MiddleFrets 4–6
- HighFret 9
Same chords, higher. The four main chords in frets 1 to 4, then again in frets 6 to 10. Listen to how the higher voicings change the sound.
Exercises in C♯ minor
Four drills, with a click
Play along with the metronome. The neck above highlights each step.
- Four chords in one positionC♯m – E – A – B without leaving frets 4 to 7.70 bpmLevel 1
- Climb with one chordC♯m in all four places, low to high. Hear it brighten.60 bpmLevel 1
- Walk up to F♯mStrum C♯m, then walk the bass D♯ – E into F♯m.90 bpmLevel 2
- Scale, then chordsPlay the scale in frets 6 to 10, then the four chords there.70 bpmLevel 2
Why four sharps
F♯ minor with D raised
- C♯
- D♯
- E
- F♯
- G♯
- A
- B
- C♯
- D
- E
- F♯
- G♯
- A
- B
C♯ minor is F♯ minor with D raised to D♯.
Harmonic minor
Harmonic minor change
Raising the seventh to B♯ changes G♯m to G♯ major on the fifth degree.