Explore chords · Ukulele
C♯ 7th sharp 5 chord on ukulele (C♯7♯5)
Also called or written C♯7♯5, C♯ or C♯ Dominant 7th ♯5
C♯ 7th sharp 5 is built from C♯, E♯, G♯♯ and B. The 2-1-1-2 grip is a compact four-finger shape that sits near the nut.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, ♯5, ♭7
How do you play a C♯ 7th sharp 5 chord on ukulele?
C♯ 7th sharp 5 is played at the 1st fret as 2 1 1 2: ring finger on the G string at fret 2, index finger on the C string at fret 1, middle finger on the E string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 3 | G♯♯ (♯5) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 2 | E♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 4 | B (♭7) |
AdvancedThe cramped fretting at frets 1 and 2, with the pinky reaching fret 2 on the A string, is the hardest part.
C♯7♯5/E♯ inversion
C♯ 7th sharp 5 is played at the 4th fret as 4 5 5 4: index finger on the G string at fret 4, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, pinky finger on the E string at fret 5 and middle 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 | 3 | E♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 4 | G♯♯ (♯5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 2 | C♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ 7th sharp 5 stacks a major 3rd, an augmented 5th and a minor 7th over the root. The augmented 5th, G♯♯, is what separates it from C♯ 7th, whose 5th is G♯. That raised 5th creates a tritone with the 3rd, E♯, giving the chord its tense dominant colour.
What goes wrong with C♯ 7th sharp 5?
- Letting the pinky flatten onto the A string and deaden the note at fret 2.
- Not arching the ring finger enough, causing the G string at fret 2 to buzz.
When to use it
C♯ 7th sharp 5 works as a tense dominant in jazz or blues, especially over C♯ aeolian dominant or C♯ altered scales. Use it to add tension before resolving to C♯ major.
Changing to and from C♯ 7th sharp 5
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives D 7th sharp 5.
Which voicing to use
The default C♯7♯5/A inversion puts the augmented 5th, G♯♯, in the bass, which makes the chord sound unstable and restless. The C♯7♯5/C♭ inversion, with the ♭7 in the bass, is higher and slightly brighter.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ 7th sharp 5 written?
C♯ 7th sharp 5 is written as C♯7♯5 or C♯. The ASCII root is C#, so C#7#5 also works. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between C♯ 7th sharp 5 and C♯ augmented?
C♯ augmented has no 7th: it is C♯, E♯ and G♯♯. C♯ 7th sharp 5 adds the minor 7th, B, which makes it a dominant chord rather than a pure augmented triad.
Why does C♯ 7th sharp 5 sound so tense?
The augmented 5th, G♯♯, forms a tritone with the 3rd, E♯. That tritone is the engine of dominant tension, pulling the chord toward its resolution.