C-sharp minor seventh chord (C#m7)
The C♯ minor seventh chord (C♯m7) is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad with a minor seventh on top, C♯, E, G♯ and B (root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the ii7 in B major and the vi7 in E major; its relative is E major seventh, and G♯ dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play C♯ minor seventh on guitar
There are 3 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-4-2-4-2-4, barre at fret 2, with C♯ in the bass (fingers x-2-1-3-1-4).
- Voicing 2: 9-11-9-9-9-9, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 9, with C♯ in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-4-6-4-5-4, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 4, with C♯ in the bass.
Notes of the C♯ minor seventh chord on the fretboard
C♯ minor seventh has 4 notes: C♯, E, G♯ and B. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): E (0) · G♯ (4) · B (7) · C♯ (9) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): B (2) · C♯ (4) · E (7) · G♯ (11)
- String 4 (D): E (2) · G♯ (6) · B (9) · C♯ (11)
- String 3 (G): G♯ (1) · B (4) · C♯ (6) · E (9)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · C♯ (2) · E (5) · G♯ (9) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · G♯ (4) · B (7) · C♯ (9) · E (12)
Formula and intervals of C♯ minor seventh
Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-3-7-10.
- C♯: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- E: Minor third (m3), 3 semitones above C♯
- G♯: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above C♯
- B: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above C♯
C♯ minor seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 1-1-0-2, barre at fret 1; it sounds G♯, C♯, E and B.
C♯ minor seventh on piano
- Keys: C♯4, E4, G♯4 and B4.
Inversions of C♯ minor seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: C♯, E, G♯ and B, with C♯ in the bass.
- First inversion (C♯m7/E): E, G♯, B and C♯, with E in the bass.
- Second inversion (C♯m7/G♯): G♯, B, C♯ and E, with G♯ in the bass.
- Third inversion (C♯m7/B): B, C♯, E and G♯, with B in the bass.
Keys that use C♯ minor seventh
C♯ minor seventh appears in 6 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| B major (5 sharps) | ii7 | Supertonic |
| A major (3 sharps) | iii7 | Mediant |
| E major (4 sharps) | vi7 | Submediant |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | i7 | Tonic |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | iv7 | Subdominant |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | v7 | Dominant |
Progressions with C♯ minor seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in B major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): C♯m7 – F♯7 – Bmaj7
C♯ minor seventh or D♭ minor seventh?
C♯ minor seventh (C♯m7) and D♭ minor seventh (D♭m7) are the same chord with two names: they sound the same and use the same frets.
The spelling depends on the key: it is written D♭ minor seventh in flat keys and C♯ minor seventh in sharp keys.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C♯ minor seventh chord?
C♯, E, G♯ and B: root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7.
Which keys use C♯ minor seventh?
Mainly as the ii7 in B major and the vi7 in E major. In total it appears in 6 major and minor keys.
Is D♭ minor seventh the same chord as C♯ minor seventh?
Yes: D♭ minor seventh and C♯ minor seventh sound the same and are played the same way. It is written D♭ minor seventh in flat keys and C♯ minor seventh in sharp keys.
What is the relative of C♯ minor seventh?
E major seventh: they share three of their four notes. In the key where E major seventh is Imaj7, C♯ minor seventh is vi7; in a major key, the minor seventh chords are ii7, iii7 and vi7.