C♯ minor scale on piano
The C♯ minor scale uses the notes C♯ - D♯ - E - F♯ - G♯ - A - B and has 4 sharps. This page shows the natural minor scale.
Numbers on the keys are right-hand fingers (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger).
C♯ minor scale fingering
| Hand | C♯ | D♯ | E | F♯ | G♯ | A | B | C♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Practice each hand alone, slowly, until the thumb crossing feels smooth. Then play hands together at a tempo where you make no mistakes, and raise it a little each day.
Chords in C♯ minor
Build a triad on every note of the scale and you get the seven chords that belong to this key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i | C♯ minor | C♯ - E - G♯ |
| ii° | D♯ diminished | D♯ - F♯ - A |
| III | E major | E - G♯ - B |
| iv | F♯ minor | F♯ - A - C♯ |
| v | G♯ minor | G♯ - B - D♯ |
| VI | A major | A - C♯ - E |
| VII | B major | B - D♯ - F♯ |
The most common progression in pop music in this key is C♯m - G♯m - A - F♯m (i - v - VI - iv).
Relative key
E major is the relative major of C♯ minor. Both scales use the same notes; they simply start on a different note, which changes the mood.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the C♯ minor scale?
C♯ minor: C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯.
How many sharps or flats are in C♯ minor?
C♯ minor has 4 sharps (C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯).
What is the relative major of C♯ minor?
E major. It shares the same notes and key signature as C♯ minor.