C♯ major chordC♯

Built from

• C♯root
• E♯major 3rd
• G♯5th

The major 3rd sits four frets above the root and makes the chord sound open and sure of itself.

Hear it in a progression

• The pop progression

  Behind countless hits. Hopeful, then bittersweet. In D♭ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. D♭I
  2. A♭V
  3. B♭mvi
  4. G♭IV

• Three-chord song

  Folk, rock and roll, campfire. In D♭ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. D♭I
  2. G♭IV
  3. A♭V
  4. D♭I

• Doo-wop

  Fifties ballad, sweet and nostalgic. In D♭ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. D♭I
  2. B♭mvi
  3. G♭IV
  4. A♭V

Where it goes next

Thinking in D♭ major, where it is the I chord.

• G♭

  IV. Lifts away from home without leaving it.

• A♭

  V. Builds tension that wants to come back.

• B♭m

  vi. Same key, sadder colour: the relative minor.

• E♭m

  ii. A gentle step up that sets up the V chord.

Sounds close

• A♯m7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have C♯, E♯ and G♯.

• Fm

  Shares two notes: a softer swap. Both have E♯ and G♯.

• A♯m

  Its relative minor: same key, sadder. Both have C♯ and E♯.

• Ddim7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have E♯ and G♯.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• D♭ major
• D♭ major pentatonic
• D♭ mixolydian
• D♭ lydian

Keys it lives in

• D♭ majoras I
• F♯ majoras V
• A♭ majoras IV
• F minoras VI
• B♭ minoras III
• E♭ minoras VII