C♯ minor chord on ukulele (C♯m)

C♯m is C♯, E and G♯. The usual shape is 6-4-4-4. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

How to play C♯m on ukulele

Shape 1, 6-4-4-4, reading from the G string on the left, starts at the 4th fret:

1. E: index finger, 4th fret of the C string.
2. G♯: middle finger, 4th fret of the E string.
3. C♯: ring finger, 4th fret of the A string.
4. C♯: pinky finger, 6th fret of the G string.

• The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.
• Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play C♯m

• 9-8-9-7: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

Capo shortcuts for C♯m

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 1st fret and play the open Cm shape (0-3-3-3), capo on the 2nd fret and play the open Bm shape (4-2-2-2) or capo on the 4th fret and play the open Am shape (2-0-0-0). The chord sounds as C♯m because the capo raises every string by a half step.

Changing from C♯m to the chords around it

The chords C♯m usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

• F♯ (V in B major): C♯m (6-4-4-4) to F♯ (3-1-2-1): your index finger lands on the C string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 1st fret, move the ring finger to the E string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared note: C♯. F♯ on ukulele
• E (IV in B major): C♯m (6-4-4-4) to E (1-4-0-2): the index finger goes to the G string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the C string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: E and G♯. E on ukulele
• B (I in B major): C♯m (6-4-4-4) to B (4-3-2-2): move the index finger to the E string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the C string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. B on ukulele

C♯m has the gentle, slightly melancholy sound of a minor chord. All 3 notes of C♯m fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

A short C♯m drill

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: C♯, E, G♯, C♯. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 9-8-9-7 and back four times without looking at your hand.

D♭m is another spelling of C♯m. Same shape, same sound.

C♯m in context

• ii in B major
• iii in A major
• vi in E major
• i in C♯ minor
• iv in G♯ minor
• v in F♯ minor

In C♯ minor, i–VI–III–VII on ukulele is C♯m (6-4-4-4), A (2-1-0-0), E (1-4-0-2) and B (4-3-2-2). About the minor anthem.

In C♯ minor, i–iv–V on ukulele is C♯m (6-4-4-4), F♯m (2-1-2-0) and A♭ (1-3-4-3). About the minor cadence.

In C♯ minor, i–VII–VI–V on ukulele is C♯m (6-4-4-4), B (4-3-2-2), A (2-1-0-0) and A♭ (1-3-4-3). About the Andalusian cadence.

C♯m on guitar and piano

C♯m on guitar and piano uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on ukulele

• C♯
• C♯m7
• C♯m6
• C♯sus2
• C♯sus4
• C♯dim

Other minor chords

• Cm
• Dm
• E♭m
• Em
• Fm
• F♯m
• Gm
• G♯m
• Am
• B♭m
• Bm

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside C♯m. Updated September 2026. Print this chord