Piano chord
C♯7C sharp dominant seventh
- C♯1
- E♯3
- G♯5
- B♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play C♯7 on piano
- Find C♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on C♯, 3 on E♯, 4 on G♯, 5 on B.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on C♯, 3 on E♯, 2 on G♯, 1 on B.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B
1st inversion · E♯ – G♯ – B – C♯
2nd inversion · G♯ – B – C♯ – E♯
3rd inversion · B – C♯ – E♯ – G♯
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
C♯7 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of C♯7. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has C♯ at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: C♯Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: E♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: G♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: BRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with C♯7
The other chords of F sharp major, the key where C♯7 is home (V7). Songs in this key move between them.
C♯7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C♯ an octave lower, the right hand plays C♯–E♯–G♯–B.
C♯7 on other instruments
About the C♯7 chord
The 4 notes of C sharp dominant seventh are C♯ (1), E♯ (3), G♯ (5), B (♭7). A dominant seventh: a major triad with the flat seventh on top. It creates tension that wants to resolve, usually to the chord a fifth below.
Put your thumb on C♯ and count up: C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B. The whole chord spans 10 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers C♯7 without stretching.
The inversions of C♯7 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is E♯ (E♯–G♯–B–C♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G♯ (G♯–B–C♯–E♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B (B–C♯–E♯–G♯).
Add B to C♯ and you have C♯7.
C♯7 belongs to F sharp major (V7), F sharp minor (V7), E flat minor (VII7).
Questions
What notes are in the C♯7 chord?
C♯7 (C sharp dominant seventh) has 4 notes: C♯ (1), E♯ (3), G♯ (5), B (♭7).
How many inversions does C♯7 have?
C♯7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C♯–E♯–G♯–B); 1st inversion (E♯–G♯–B–C♯); 2nd inversion (G♯–B–C♯–E♯); 3rd inversion (B–C♯–E♯–G♯).
What is the difference between C♯7 and C♯?
Add B to C♯ and you have C♯7.
Can I play C♯7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position C♯7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.