Explore chords · Ukulele
C♯ 7th chord on ukulele (C♯7)
Also called or written C♯7, C♯, C♯ Dominant 7th or C♯ Major Minor 7th
C♯ 7th contains C♯, E♯, G♯, and B. The 6th fret shape demands a wide stretch across four frets, making it a challenging grip.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionC♯–E♯–G♯–BC♯71-1-1-2
- First inversionE♯–G♯–B–C♯C♯7/E♯4-5-4-4
- Second inversionG♯–B–C♯–E♯C♯7/G♯6-8-7-8
- Third inversionB–C♯–E♯–G♯C♯7/B10-11-9-11
How do you play a C♯ 7th chord on ukulele?
C♯ 7th is played at the 6th fret as 6 8 7 8: index finger on the G string at fret 6, ring finger on the C string at fret 8, middle finger on the E string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 2 | B (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe 6th fret shape requires a wide stretch from the index on the 4th string to the pinky on the 1st string, spanning four frets.
C♯7/B inversion
C♯ 7th is played at the 9th fret as 10 11 9 11: middle finger on the G string at fret 10, ring finger on the C string at fret 11, index finger on the E string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 2 | E♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 3 | B (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 11 | 4 | G♯ (5) |
1st fret
C♯ 7th is played at the 1st fret as 1 1 1 2: barre your index finger across fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 4 | B (♭7) |
C♯7/E♯ inversion
C♯ 7th is played at the 4th fret as 4 5 4 4: index finger on the G string at fret 4, pinky finger on the C string at fret 5, middle finger on the E string at fret 4 and ring finger on the A string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 1 | B (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 4 | E♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 2 | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7 on the root C♯. The ♭7, B, gives the chord its dominant pull. Compare it with C♯ major, which lacks the ♭7.
What goes wrong with C♯ 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and deaden the 1st string.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the 2nd string, muffling the G♯.
- Pressing the index too flat so the 4th string buzzes.
When to use it
C♯ 7th is the V chord in F♯ major, resolving to F♯ major in the I–IV–V–I progression F♯–B–C♯–F♯. It also appears in the I–V–vi–IV progression F♯–C♯–D♯m–B. Use C♯ 7th for blues, rock, and jazz progressions.
Changing to and from C♯ 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 5th fret gives C 7th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 7th fret gives D 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 6th fret shape has C♯ in the bass and is the root position. The C♯7/B inversion at the 4th fret puts B in the bass and is easier to reach. The C♯7/G♯ inversion at the 1st fret has G♯ in the bass and uses a barre.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ 7th written?
C♯ 7th is written as C♯7 or C#7. The symbols C♯ and C♯7 both refer to this chord. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between C♯ 7th and C♯ major?
C♯ major contains C♯, E♯, and G♯. C♯ 7th adds the ♭7, B, which creates tension that resolves to F♯ major.
Can I play C♯ 7th with open strings?
No, C♯ 7th has no open-string voicing. The easiest shape is the C♯7/B inversion at the 4th fret.