C♯ dominant seventh (C♯7) chord on piano

Dominant seventh chord (a major triad plus a minor seventh) on C♯: the notes of the C♯7 chord are C♯ – E♯ – G♯ – B. The same chord with a different spelling: D♭ dominant seventh (D♭7).

Root position: C♯4 – E♯4 – G♯4 – B4

Chord finder Transposer

What the C♯7 chord sounds like

The dominant seventh sounds tense and wants to move on: the third and the minor seventh form a tritone that pulls towards the tonic. It is also the basic chord of the blues and early rock'n'roll.

Notes of the C♯7 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	C♯	root
3	E♯	major third (4 semitones)
5	G♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones)
7	B	minor seventh (10 semitones)

Root position and inversions

An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.

Root position

C♯4 – E♯4 – G♯4 – B4

1st inversion

E♯4 – G♯4 – B4 – C♯5

2nd inversion

G♯4 – B4 – C♯5 – E♯5

3rd inversion

B4 – C♯5 – E♯5 – G♯5

Which keys is it in?

The C♯7 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

F♯ major: V7 (dominant)
F♯ minor: V7 (dominant)
D♯ minor: VII7

Similar chords and substitutes

If C♯7 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

G7 – tritone substitute: the same third and seventh, swapped – a jazz favourite
Fdim7 – diminished seventh on the third: a common stand-in for the dominant
C♯9 – a fuller dominant (with the ninth)
C♯7sus4 – suspended dominant, less tense
F♯ – where it resolves (V → I)

Simpler versions

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

Richer versions

C♯9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
C♯11 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
C♯13 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯7 chord?

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

How do I play the C♯7 chord on piano?

In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.

How is the C♯7 chord written?

The chord symbol is C♯7 (also written C#7), and its full name is C♯ dominant seventh.