stringery

C♯ minor

Natural minor, also called aeolian. Minor family

Sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

Root position1 of 5

571012

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. C♯RW
  2. D♯2H
  3. E♭3W
  4. F♯4W
  5. G♯5H
  6. A♭6W
  7. B♭7W

The flat 3rd makes it minor, and the flat 6th is what makes it sound sad rather than just dark.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckC♯ minor

12345GCEA5710125♭6♭7R2♭34R2♭345♭6♭7♭345♭6♭7R2♭3♭6♭7R2♭345♭6
12345GCEA5710125♭6♭7R2♭34R2♭345♭6♭7♭345♭6♭7R2♭3♭6♭7R2♭345♭6

Position 1 is outlined, frets 1 to 4. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The C♯ minor key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. C♯mi
  2. D♯dimii°
  3. EIII
  4. F♯miv
  5. G♯mv
  6. AVI
  7. BVII

Its neighbours on the circle of fifths Capo and transpose

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • E major

    Same notes, but home is E: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • F♯ dorian

    Same notes, but home is F♯: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • B mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is B: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • A lydian

    Same notes, but home is A: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • G♯ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is G♯: dark, spanish, menacing.