How to play C#: a major built on C#, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: played at the first few frets. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 4 3 1 2 1 (x = not played).
| Note | C# | E# | G# |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | 5 |
C# is a major with C# as its root. The full theoretical spelling is C#, E#, G#. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
C# is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 3 major keys and 4 minor keys. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
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C# is spelled C#, E#, G#: the root, 3rd, 5th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 4 3 1 2 1 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 1st fret from the G string to the high E string (a barre). Add the B string at the 2nd fret. Add the D string at the 3rd fret. Add the A string at the 4th fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
C# belongs to 7 keys: Db major (the I chord), Ab major (the IV chord), F# major (the V chord), F minor (the VI), Bb minor (the III), D# minor (the VII) and F# minor (the V, from the harmonic minor).
