C♯ Major Scale (C#)
The C# major scale (also called C# Ionian) contains C# – D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B#. Its key signature has 7 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# and B#. It uses the same piano keys as Db major, spelled Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C (5 flats).
| Note | C# | D# | E# | F# | G# | A# | B# | C# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
C# major scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to E# and B#. Left hand, going up: finger 4 crosses over the thumb to F# and finger 3 crosses over the thumb to C#. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
C# major has 7 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# and B#. Its relative minor is A# minor, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of C# major and of Bb minor.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from C# |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | 0 |
| 2 | D# | 2 |
| 3 | E# | 4 |
| 4 | F# | 5 |
| 5 | G# | 7 |
| 6 | A# | 9 |
| 7 | B# | 11 |
Step pattern
The Major scale is built from the pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in C# Major
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in C# Major.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | C# | C# E# G# |
| 2 | ii | D#m | D# F# A# |
| 3 | iii | E#m | E# G# B# |
| 4 | IV | F# | F# A# C# |
| 5 | V | G# | G# B# D# |
| 6 | vi | A#m | A# C# E# |
| 7 | vii° | B#dim | B# D# F# |
Other modes on C#
More scales on C#
Major scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C# Major scale?
The C# Major scale contains C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#, then returns to C# an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the C# major scale on piano?
Going up from C# to C#, the right hand plays 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 and the left hand plays 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many sharps are in C# major?
C# major has 7 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# and B#.
What is the step pattern of the Major scale?
The Major scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the C# Major scale?
The diatonic chords are C#, D#m, E#m, F#, G#, A#m, B#dim. Each is built only from notes of the C# Major scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.