Explore chords · Ukulele
C♯ minor chord on ukulele (C♯m)
Also called or written C♯m or C♯min
C♯ minor is built from C♯, E, and G♯. The 4th fret shape is a barre chord that mirrors the B♭ minor grip two frets higher.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5
How do you play a C♯ minor chord on ukulele?
C♯ minor is played at the 4th fret as 6 4 4 4: barre your index finger across fret 4 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 1 (barre) | E (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
IntermediateThe index barre must fret three strings at the fourth fret while the pinky stretches to the sixth fret of the G string.
C♯min/G♯ inversion · 9-8-9-7
C♯ minor is played at the 7th fret as 9 8 9 7: ring finger on the G string at fret 9, middle finger on the C string at fret 8, pinky finger on the E string at fret 9 and index finger on the A string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 3 | E (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 2 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 4 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 1 | E (♭3) |
Open — the easy shape, no barre
C♯ minor is played in open position as 1 1 0 ×: index finger on the G string at fret 1 and middle finger on the C string at fret 1. The E string rings open. The A string stays muted.
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) | muted | — | — |
C♯min/G♯ inversion · ×-8-9-7
C♯ minor is played at the 7th fret as × 8 9 7: middle finger on the C string at fret 8, ring finger on the E string at fret 9 and index finger on the A string at fret 7. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 2 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 1 | E (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ minor uses the formula 1, ♭3, 5. The ♭3 is E, which creates the minor quality. Compare it with C♯ major, where the third is E♯.
What goes wrong with C♯ minor?
- The barre fails to press the A string, leaving it muted.
- The pinky touches the C string, causing a buzz.
- The index finger is angled, making the E string sound dull.
When to use it
C♯ minor is the vi chord in E major, appearing in progressions like E–B–C♯ minor–A (I–V–vi–IV). It works well in rock and indie ballads. Try it with E major and A major.
Changing to and from C♯ minor
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 2nd fret gives B minor.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 3rd fret gives C minor.
Which voicing to use
The 4th fret voicing has C♯ in the bass, while the C♯min/E inversion puts E in the bass for a softer, less grounded sound. The C♯min/G♯ inversion places G♯ in the bass, adding tension.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ minor written?
C♯ minor is written as C♯m, C♯min, C♯−, or C♯mi. On a keyboard, the root is typed as C#. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Why does the 4th fret shape use a barre?
The barre allows one finger to cover three strings, making the chord movable. This shape can slide up or down the neck to play other minor chords.
How does C♯ minor differ from C♯ major?
C♯ minor lowers the third from E♯ to E, changing the chord from major to minor. The fifth, G♯, remains the same.