How to Play C#m on Piano

The C# Minor chord sounds dark and inward. It stacks 3 notes: C# – E – G#.

Flattening the third by a semitone is the whole difference between major and minor. Everything else is identical.

Notes in C#m

NoteIntervalFinger
C#C#4Root1
EE4Minor 3rd3
G#G#4Perfect 5th5

How to Play

Right Hand

Place your thumb (finger 1) on C#. Use finger 3 on E and finger 5 on G#.

Where it sits

2 notes of this chord (C#, G#) are on black keys, so play it a little further back on the keys than an all-white shape.

Press all 3 keys at the same time. Keep your wrist relaxed and your fingers curved. The blue dots on the piano below show exactly which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Other Minor Chords

Other C# Chords