Chords in the key of C♯ minor
The key of C♯ minor has four sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯). Its seven chords are C♯m, D♯dim, E, F♯m, G♯m, A and B. Tap any of them, or play them in order.
Tap a numeral to hear one chord; tap a shape to open it.
The chords that do most of the work
Home is C♯m. The three chords doing most of the lifting are F♯m, A and B; add A♭ (the major V, with B♯ borrowed from harmonic minor) when you want a real cadence back to C♯m. Without it, B to C♯m gives the modal, unresolved ending common in rock.
Key signature
C♯ minor has four sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯) in the key signature. Sharp keys add one sharp per step clockwise around the circle of fifths: C♯ minor sits between F♯ minor and G♯ minor.
The notes of the key are the C♯ natural minor scale: C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B. Relative major: E major (same notes). Parallel major: D♭ major (same starting note).
Progressions in C♯ minor
The progression player below starts in C♯ minor. Change the key to hear the same pattern anywhere; the numerals stay the same.
In C♯ minor, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- iC♯m
- VIA
- IIIE
- VIIB
| Progression | In C♯ minor | |
|---|---|---|
| i–VI–III–VII the minor anthem | C♯m – A – E – B | |
| i–iv–V the minor cadence | C♯m – F♯m – G♯ – C♯m | |
| i–VII–VI–V the Andalusian cadence | C♯m – B – A – G♯ | |
| i–VII–VI–VII the epic minor loop | C♯m – B – A – B |
Borrowed dominants: leaning into other chords of C♯ minor
A secondary dominant is the dominant seventh chord a fifth above any chord of the key. Play it just before that chord and the arrival sounds stronger, as if the song briefly changed key.
- V7 of III
- V7 of iv
- V7 of v
- V7 of VI
- V7 of VII
Chords borrowed from the parallel key
Minor-key songs often take chords from D♭ major, the parallel major: F♯ (IV), C♯ (I) and E♭m (ii). The major IV gives a brighter, Dorian lift, and ending a minor piece on the major I is the old "Picardy third".
Seventh chords in C♯ minor
The C♯ minor seventh chords: C♯m7, D♯m7♭5, Emaj7, F♯m7, G♯m7, Amaj7 and B7. With the borrowed major V it becomes A♭7.
Playing in C♯ minor on guitar
C♯ minor is awkward in open position, so most guitarists use a capo: capo 4th fret with A minor shapes. Barre chords work too.
Transpose a chord chart · How a capo works
Other keys
Key of C♯ minor: questions
What chords are in the key of C♯ minor?
C♯m, D♯dim, E, F♯m, G♯m, A and B. As numerals: i = C♯m, ii° = D♯dim, III = E, iv = F♯m, v = G♯m, VI = A, VII = B. Most songs in C♯ minor also use A♭ (major V) in place of G♯m.
How many sharps or flats are in C♯ minor?
Four sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).
What is the relative major of C♯ minor?
E major. It uses the same key signature; the difference is which chord feels like home.
What are the i, iv and V chords in C♯ minor?
C♯m (i), F♯m (iv) and A♭ (V, borrowed from the harmonic minor).
How do I play in C♯ minor on guitar with a capo?
Capo 4th fret, then play A minor shapes (Am, F, C, G); they sound as C♯m, A, E, B.
Chord spellings follow the key signature of C♯ minor; all of them are checked automatically. Updated September 2026.