Common
About the C sharp Major scale
C sharp Major is used for anthems, pop hooks, hymns and anything that should feel uplifting and stable. Think of it as the bright, resolved, "happy" sound that anchors most pop, folk and classical music. It is C♯ Lydian with the fourth lowered.
Its notes are C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, and B♯. The formula is W W H W W W H.
Also called the Ionian mode, Diatonic Major, and Bilawal.
C♯ Major draws five black keys from the piano, C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯, and A♯.
Chords in the key of C sharp Major
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
C sharp over E sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D sharp minor over F sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E sharp minor over G sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F sharp over A sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G sharp over B sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A sharp minor over C sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B sharp diminished over D sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in C sharp Major
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
C sharp major seven
D sharp minor seven
E sharp minor seven
F sharp major seven
G sharp seven
A sharp minor seven
B sharp minor seven flat five
Progressions in C sharp Major
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | C#C♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | D#D♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | E#E♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | F#F♯ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G#G♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | A#A♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | B#B♯ | Major 7th |
| Steps | W W H W W W H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | C sharp | D sharp | E sharp | F sharp | G sharp | A sharp | B sharp | C sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Practicing it
Going up, the right hand passes its thumb under on E♯ and B♯. Going up, the left hand crosses over after its thumb plays E♯ and B♯. The hands share their crossing points, since both thumbs land on E♯ and B♯. The long fingers cover the black keys C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯, and A♯, anchored by the fourth finger on A♯, and the hand sits forward on the keyboard to keep them there.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Major in other keys
C Major scaleD Major scaleD sharp Major scaleE Major scaleF Major scaleF sharp Major scaleG Major scaleG sharp Major scaleA Major scaleA sharp Major scaleB Major scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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