Chords in the Key of C♯ Minor

The key of C♯ minor has 7 chords: C♯m, D♯°, E, F♯m, G♯m, A and B. Songs in C♯ minor often use G♯ too. Play them, see them with 7ths and numbers, and try common progressions.

C♯ minor: 4 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯)

Scale: C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B · Relative major: E major

The 7 chords in the key of C♯ minor (natural minor). Press a chord to hear it.
Roman	Nashville	Function
i	6m	tonic
ii°	7°	predominant
III	1	tonic
iv	2m	predominant
v	3m	dominant
VI	4	tonic or predominant
VII	5	dominant
V	3	dominant (harmonic minor)

Common progressions in C♯ minor

i–VI–III–VIIC♯m A E B
i–iv–VC♯m F♯m G♯ C♯m
Andalusian cadenceC♯m B A G♯
i–VII–VI–VIIC♯m B A B
i–iv–VII–IIIC♯m F♯m B E
iiø–V–iD♯m7♭5 G♯7 C♯m7
i–VI–VIIC♯m A B C♯m

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Guitar chords in C♯ minor

C♯m i · x4212x
D♯° ii° · xx12x2
E III · 022100
F♯m iv · 244222
G♯m v · 466444
A VI · x02220
B VII · x24442
G♯ V · 43111x

Key signature and scale

C♯ minor has 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯). The C♯ minor scale is C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B.

Its relative major is E major: same signature, same chords, a different home chord. Next to it on the circle of fifths are G♯ minor (one more sharp or one less flat) and F♯ minor (one more flat or one less sharp); songs often move to these keys.

Progressions in C♯ minor

Progression	In C♯ minor
i–VI–III–VII	C♯m A E B
i–iv–V	C♯m F♯m G♯ C♯m
Andalusian cadence	C♯m B A G♯
i–VII–VI–VII	C♯m B A B

Press Play in the tool above to hear them, or Transpose to move a progression to another key. Need these chords in another key? Use the transposition chart.

Chords in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of C♯ minor?

The seven chords are C♯m, D♯°, E, F♯m, G♯m, A and B (i, ii°, III, iv, v, VI, VII). Songs in C♯ minor often use G♯ too, the major V chord from the harmonic minor scale.

How many sharps or flats does C♯ minor have?

C♯ minor has 4 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯. Its scale is C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B.

What is the relative major of C♯ minor?

E major. The two keys share the same key signature and the same seven chords; they differ in which chord feels like home.

Which chords in C♯ minor are hard on guitar, and can a capo help?

Played without a capo the main chords are C♯m, F♯m, A, B, G♯. With a capo on fret 4 you can play Am shapes instead: Am, Dm, F, G, E, and it still sounds in C♯ minor.

What is the V chord in C♯ minor?

In natural minor it is G♯m, but minor-key songs often use G♯ (or G♯7) to lead back to C♯m.

Last updated: October 12, 2026