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C♯ minor 7th chord on ukulele (C♯m7)
Also called or written C♯m7 or C♯min7
C♯ minor 7th contains C♯, E, G♯, and B. The 6th-fret grip stretches the pinky to the 8th fret while the other fingers hold the 7th fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7
How do you play a C♯ minor 7th chord on ukulele?
C♯ minor 7th is played at the 6th fret as 6 8 7 7: index finger on the G string at fret 6, pinky finger on the C string at fret 8, middle finger on the E string at fret 7 and ring finger on the A string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 4 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 2 | B (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 3 | E (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must stretch to the 8th fret on the C string while the middle and ring fingers hold the 7th fret, risking a muted E string.
C♯m7/B inversion
C♯ minor 7th is played at the 9th fret as 9 11 9 11: index finger on the G string at fret 9, ring finger on the C string at fret 11, middle 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) | 9 | 1 | E (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 3 | B (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 2 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 11 | 4 | G♯ (5) |
Open
C♯ minor 7th is played in open position as 1 1 0 2: index finger on the G string at fret 1, middle finger on the C string at fret 1 and ring finger on the A string at fret 2. The E string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 2 | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | open | — | E (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 3 | B (♭7) |
C♯m7/E inversion
C♯ minor 7th is played at the 4th fret as 4 4 4 4: barre your index finger across fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 1 (barre) | B (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 1 (barre) | E (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The minor 3rd between C♯ and E gives the chord its minor quality, and the minor 7th B adds a mellow tension. Compare it to C♯ minor, which omits the 7th.
What goes wrong with C♯ minor 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse onto the E string, muting it.
- Pressing the index finger too flat, which can buzz the G string.
- Rushing the stretch so the C string note sounds sharp.
When to use it
C♯ minor 7th works as the vi chord in E major, appearing in the progression E major–B major–C♯ minor–A major (I–V–vi–IV). It suits modern pop and ballads. Try it with C♯ minor and E major.
Changing to and from C♯ minor 7th
- Move to D minor 7th by sliding the shape up one fret to the 7th fret.
- From C♯ minor 7th, slide down one fret to the 5th fret for C minor 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 6th-fret voicing keeps C♯ in the bass for a grounded sound. The C♯m7/E inversion at the 9th fret puts E in the bass, softening the chord. For a brighter top, use the C♯m7/G♯ inversion at the 1st fret.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ minor 7th written?
C♯ minor 7th is written C♯min7 or C♯m7. The root is spelled C# in ASCII. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Why does the 6th-fret voicing feel so stretched?
The stretch comes from the pinky reaching the 8th fret on the C string while the other fingers stay near the 6th and 7th frets. Practicing the shape slowly helps the hand adapt.
How does C♯ minor 7th differ from C♯ minor?
C♯ minor 7th adds the note B, a minor 7th above the root. This extra note creates a softer, more complex sound than the plain triad.