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Scales

C♯ minor scale

The C♯ minor scale notes: C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B. The natural minor (Aeolian): the notes of the relative major starting from its 6th degree. Darker and sadder than major.

Notes and steps

C♯1D♯2E♭3F♯4G♯5A♭6B♭7

Steps: W – H – W – W – H – W – W · W = whole step, H = half step

C♯ minor scale on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

C♯ minor scale on the guitar fretboardEF♯G♯ABC♯D♯EABC♯D♯EF♯G♯AD♯EF♯G♯ABC♯G♯ABC♯D♯EF♯BC♯D♯EF♯G♯ABEF♯G♯ABC♯D♯E357912

C♯ minor scale on piano

C♯ minor scale on the piano keyboardEABEABC♯D♯F♯G♯C♯D♯F♯G♯

Chords in this scale

Other scales from C♯

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯ minor scale?

C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B. Step formula: W–H–W–W–H–W–W (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (C♯). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

Which chords go with it?

The chords built on its degrees: C♯m, D♯dim, E, F♯m, G♯m, A, B. More in the key of C♯ minor.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash