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Chords › C♯5

C Sharp Power Chord Power Chord on Guitar

4fr134

Movable, fret 4

C♯5 is a power chord: just the root and the fifth, with no third, so it is neither major nor minor and stays clear under distortion. C♯5 has no open shape, so it is usually played as a 3-string shape from the 4th fret.

How to play C♯5, finger by finger

  1. Put your index finger on string 5 at the 4th fret.
  2. Put your ring finger on string 4 at the 6th fret.
  3. Put your pinky finger on string 3 at the 6th fret.
  4. Strum strings 5 to 3 only.

More ways to play C♯5

6fr134
Movable, fret 6 from fret 6
9fr134
Movable, fret 9 from fret 9
11fr134
Movable, fret 11 from fret 11

Notes in C♯5

NoteIntervalRole
C♯1root
G♯5fifth

Formula: 1 – 5

Questions about C♯5

What notes are in C♯5?

C♯ and G♯. Those are the 1, 5 of the chord, counted from C♯.

Which strings do I strum for C♯5?

Start on string 5 and strum down to string 1, and leave the strings marked with an X silent.

Is C♯5 the same as D♭5?

Yes, on guitar they are played the same way and sound the same. C sharp and D flat are two names for one note: songs in sharp keys write C♯, songs in flat keys write D♭.

Is C♯5 major or minor?

Neither. A power chord has only the root and the fifth (C♯ and G♯), so it fits songs in C♯ major and C♯ minor alike. It is the standard chord for rock and metal rhythm guitar.

Often played with C♯5

Other power chords