Piano chord
C♯m7C sharp minor seventh
- C♯1
- E♭3
- G♯5
- B♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play C♯m7 on piano
- Find C♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on C♯, 2 on E, 4 on G♯, 5 on B.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on C♯, 4 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♯m7 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on C♯; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: C♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: ERight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: G♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: BRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
Chords that go with C♯m7
The other chords of C sharp minor, the key where C♯m7 is home (i7). Songs in this key move between them.
C♯m7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C♯ an octave lower, the right hand plays C♯–E–G♯–B.
C♯m7 on other instruments
About the C♯m7 chord
To build C sharp minor seventh, take these 4 notes from the root up: C♯ (1), E (♭3), G♯ (5), B (♭7). A minor seventh: a minor triad with the flat seventh. Softer than a plain minor chord, it is the ii chord of jazz and a favourite in R&B.
The keys are C♯ – E – G♯ – B, counted up from C♯; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 10 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold C♯m7, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of C♯m7 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. 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♯).
Compared with C♯m, C♯m7 has one more note, B.
You meet C♯m7 in these keys: A major (iii7), E major (vi7), B major (ii7), F sharp minor (v7), C sharp minor (i7).
Questions
What notes are in the C♯m7 chord?
C♯m7 (C sharp minor seventh) has 4 notes: C♯ (1), E (♭3), G♯ (5), B (♭7).
How many inversions does C♯m7 have?
C♯m7 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♯m7 and C♯m?
Compared with C♯m, C♯m7 has one more note, B.
Can I play C♯m7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position C♯m7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.