Chords › C♯ minor
C Sharp Minor Chord on Guitar
- C♯m
- C♯ · E · G♯
- Barre at fret 4
- Also written D♭m
A-shape barre
Easy, four strings. Play only the top four strings, with no full barre. It is the usual first step before the barre shape.
C sharp minor, written C♯m, is a minor chord: the root, the minor third and the fifth, which gives it its darker sound. C♯m has no open shape, so it is usually played as an A-shape barre chord at the 4th fret, and there is an easier four-string version for beginners.
How to play C♯m, finger by finger
- Lay your index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at the 4th fret.
- Put your middle finger on string 2 at the 5th fret.
- Put your ring finger on string 4 at the 6th fret.
- Put your pinky finger on string 3 at the 6th fret.
- Strum from string 5 down to string 1, and don't play string 6.
Easy C♯m for beginners
Play only the top four strings, with no full barre. It is the usual first step before the barre shape.
More ways to play C♯m
Notes in C♯ minor
| Note | Interval | Role |
|---|---|---|
| C♯ | 1 | root |
| E | ♭3 | minor third |
| G♯ | 5 | fifth |
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5
Questions about C♯m
What notes are in C♯m?
C♯, E and G♯. Those are the 1, ♭3, 5 of the chord, counted from C♯.
What is the easiest way to play C♯m?
Play the four-string version on the top strings, frets 6, 6, 5, 4 from the 4th string to the 1st. Move to the full barre at the 4th fret when your index finger is ready.
Is C♯m the same as D♭m?
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♭.
Related chords
Often played with C♯m
Other minor chords