This guitar scale reference contains the notes, formula, structure, positions, chords, and modes for the C# Minor scale. For an in-depth lesson on the major scale, see Minor Scale Positions & Theory.
Notes of C# Minor Scale
The notes of the C sharp minor scale are:
C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B
The scale contains four sharps, C#, D#, F#, G#. The rest of the notes are naturals.
Scale Formula
The scale formula for C Sharp Minor is the following:
Root – Major 2nd – Minor 3rd – Perfect 4th – Perfect 5th – Minor 6th – Minor 7th
| Intervals | Root | Major 2nd | Minor 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Minor 6th | Minor 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A | B |
Scale Structure
C Sharp Minor is a minor scale and follows the minor scale structure of whole and half step intervals:
W H W W H W W
Scale Positions
The diagrams below outline the 5 CAGED positions for the C Sharp Minor scale.
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3
Position 4
Position 5
Chords in the Key of C Sharp Minor
When harmonizing the C Sharp Minor scale, you get the following chords:
| Degree | i | ii° | III | iv | iv | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chord | C#m | D#dim | E | F#m | G#m | A | B |
| Chord Notes | C# – E – G# | D# – F# – A | E – G# – B | F# – A – C# | G# – B – D# | A – C# – E | B – D# – F# |
Relative and Parallel Scales
Relative Major of C Sharp Minor: E Major | E – F#m – G#m – A – B – C#m – D#m♭5
Parallel Major of C Sharp Minor: C# Major | C# – D#m – E#m – F# – G# – A#m – B#m♭5
Modes
The following are the modes of C Sharp Minor:
- C# Aeolian (Minor)
- D# Locrian (Minor)
- E Ionian (Major)
- F# Dorian (Minor)
- G# Phrygian (Minor)
- A Lydian (Major)
- B Mixolydian (Major)
