C♯ minor seventh (C♯m7) chord on banjo

The C♯ minor seventh chord (C♯m7) is a minor seventh chord (a minor triad plus a minor seventh), made of four notes: C♯ – E – G♯ – B. The same chord with a different spelling: D♭ minor seventh (D♭m7).

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Basic shapemedium

Position 9medium

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What the C♯m7 chord sounds like

A minor seventh chord is softer than a plain minor chord – the minor seventh fills out the sound. In jazz it is the ii of the ii–V–I, in pop and soul a common colour chord.

Notes of the C♯m7 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	C♯	root
3	E	minor third (3 semitones)
5	G♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
7	B	minor seventh (10 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): fret 2, ring finger (E4)
String 2 (B): fret 2, middle finger (C♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 4, little finger (B3)
String 4 (D): fret 2, index finger (E3)

Position 9

String 1 (D): fret 9, ring finger (B4)
String 2 (B): fret 9, middle finger (G♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 9, index finger (E4)
String 4 (D): fret 11, little finger (C♯4)

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The C♯m7 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

C♯ minor: i7 (tonic)
F♯ minor: v7 (dominant)
G♯ minor: iv7 (subdominant)
A major: iii7
E major: vi7
B major: ii7

Similar chords and substitutes

If C♯m7 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Emaj7 – relative major seventh: three shared notes
F♯7 – in a ii–V, this is the dominant that follows

Same notes

E6 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

C♯m – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

C♯m9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯m7 chord?

C♯, E, G♯, B. The root is C♯; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh.

What is the easiest way to play C♯m7 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 2 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some C♯m7 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 4-note chord. The fifth (G♯) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the C♯m7 chord written?

The chord symbol is C♯m7 (also written C#m7), and its full name is C♯ minor seventh.