C♯ minor
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The C♯ minor chord is a triad formed from a root (C♯), a minor third (E) and a perfect fifth (G♯).
How to play C♯ minor on the piano
To play the C♯ minor chord, you'll first need to find the root of the chord. Look at the black keys in groups of two. The black key to the left, between C and D, is C♯. From there, you can build the chord.
The C♯ minor chord has the following notes: C♯, E, and G♯. To play the chord with your right hand, use the following fingers:
G♯ - Fifth finger (5)
E - Third finger (3)
C♯ - First finger (1)
Read: Learn more about major and minor chords here.
With your left hand, play the chord using the following fingers:
G♯ - First finger (1)
E - Third finger (3)
C♯ - Fifth finger (5)
The piece of music you're playing may require you to play the chord with different fingers. To get a sense of how the chord sounds, watch our video above.
What are the inversions of C♯ minor?
Beyond the root position of C♯ minor, you can also play the chord with two inversions. To play the 1st and 2nd inversions of the chord, follow the steps below.
How to play the 1st inversion of C♯ minor
Place the E as the lowest note in the chord to play the 1st inversion of C♯ minor. With your right hand, you can play the chord using the following fingers:
C♯ - Fifth finger (5)
G♯ - Second finger (2)
E - First finger (1)
Read: Learn more about chord inversions here.
How to play the 2nd inversion of C♯ minor
If you place the G♯ as the lowest note in the chord, you can start to form the 2nd inversion of C♯ minor. Play the chord with your right hand using the following fingers:
E - Fifth finger (5)
C♯ - Third finger (3)
G♯ - First finger (1)