C♯ Minor Scale (C#)
The C# minor scale (also called C# natural minor or C# Aeolian) contains C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B. Its key signature has 4 sharps: F#, C#, G# and D#.
| Note | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A | B | C# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 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# minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to E and A. 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# minor has 4 sharps: F#, C#, G# and D#. Its relative major is E major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of C# minor and of E major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from C# |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | 0 |
| 2 | D# | 2 |
| b3 | E | 3 |
| 4 | F# | 5 |
| 5 | G# | 7 |
| b6 | A | 8 |
| b7 | B | 10 |
Step pattern
The Natural Minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W (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# Natural Minor
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# Natural Minor.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | C#m | C# E G# |
| 2 | ii° | D#dim | D# F# A |
| 3 | III | E | E G# B |
| 4 | iv | F#m | F# A C# |
| 5 | v | G#m | G# B D# |
| 6 | VI | A | A C# E |
| 7 | VII | B | B D# F# |
Other modes on C#
More scales on C#
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C# Natural Minor scale?
The C# Natural Minor scale contains C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B, then returns to C# an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the C# minor scale on piano?
Going up from C# to C#, the right hand plays 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 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# minor?
C# minor has 4 sharps: F#, C#, G# and D#.
What is the step pattern of the Natural Minor scale?
The Natural Minor scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the C# Natural Minor scale?
The diatonic chords are C#m, D#dim, E, F#m, G#m, A, B. Each is built only from notes of the C# Natural Minor scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.