C♯ minor (C♯m) chord on mandolin

The C♯ minor chord (C♯m) is a minor triad, made of three notes: C♯ – E – G♯. The same chord with a different spelling: D♭ minor (D♭m).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 4medium

Position 6easy

Position 9medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

Chord finder Transposer Tuner

What the C♯m chord sounds like

A minor triad differs from a major one only in the third: it has a minor third, which gives it a darker, sadder colour. In a major key, chords ii, iii and vi are minor.

Notes of the C♯m chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	C♯	root
3	E	minor third (3 semitones)
5	G♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): open (E5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, little finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 2, middle finger (E4)
String 4 (G): fret 1, index finger (G♯3)

Position 4

String 1 (E): fret 4, index finger (G♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 7, little finger (E5)
String 3 (D): fret 6, ring finger (G♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, ring finger (C♯4)

Position 6, barre at fret 6

String 1 (E): open (E5)
String 2 (A): fret 7, middle finger (E5)
String 3 (D): fret 6, index finger (G♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, index finger (C♯4)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 6; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

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

C♯ minor: i (tonic)
F♯ minor: v (dominant)
G♯ minor: iv (subdominant)
A major: iii
E major: vi
B major: ii

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

E – relative major: two shared notes
A – the major chord a major third below: two shared notes
C♯m7 – a fuller, softer minor colour

Richer versions

C♯m7 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
C♯m6 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
C♯m9 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯m chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play C♯m on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Position 6”, rated easy. We show 4 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.

How is the C♯m chord written?

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