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C♯ acoustic scale on guitar
C♯ acoustic uses C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯♯, G♯, A♯, B. Box 1 keeps the raised fourth on the first string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the C♯ acoustic scale on guitar?
C♯ acoustic in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 16 notes across 6 strings, from E♯ on the low E string at fret 1 up to G♯ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3, 4 | E♯, F♯♯, G♯ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | D♯, E♯ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | C♯, D♯ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | E♯, F♯♯, G♯ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
C♯ acoustic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F♯♯ on the low E string at fret 3 up to A♯ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 4, 6 | F♯♯, G♯, A♯ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6 | C♯, D♯ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | E♯, F♯♯, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 4, 6 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | D♯, E♯ |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 6 | F♯♯, G♯, A♯ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
C♯ acoustic in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 16 notes across 6 strings, from A♯ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the low E string at fret 9, the G string at fret 6 and the high e string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | D♯, E♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | C♯, D♯ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | E♯, F♯♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 9 | A♯, B, C♯ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
C♯ acoustic in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 13 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to D♯ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the low E string at fret 9, the D string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11 | C♯, D♯ |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11 | F♯♯, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | E♯, F♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11, 12 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | C♯, D♯ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
C♯ acoustic in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 14 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to E♯ on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the D string at fret 11 and the B string at fret 14.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13 | D♯, E♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | G♯, A♯, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | C♯, D♯ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13 | F♯♯, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 14 | A♯, B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | D♯, E♯ |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ acoustic raises the fourth of C♯ mixolydian from F♯ to F♯♯. The scale is built 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7. This creates a Lydian Dominant sound, also called Overtone or Lydian ♭7. Compare it with C♯ mixolydian to hear the altered fourth.
When to use it
Use C♯ acoustic over C♯7, C♯ major, or C♯ 5th chords in rock, fusion, and jazz. The ♯4 adds tension over dominant chords. Try it over C♯ major or C♯ 5th progressions.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on the fifth string and covers frets 1–4 for quick access to the ♯4.
Common questions
What notes are in C♯ acoustic?
C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯♯, G♯, A♯, B. The raised fourth is F♯♯ and the flat seventh is B. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit C♯ acoustic?
C♯7, C♯ major, and C♯ 5th work well. The scale also fits over D♯ major and G♯ minor in progressions.
How is C♯ acoustic different from C♯ mixolydian?
C♯ acoustic has an F♯♯ instead of F♯. That raised fourth creates the Lydian Dominant sound.