Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
C sharp major chord (C♯) — guitar chord chart
C♯ is a major chord built on C♯. Its notes are C♯, E♯, G♯. Major chords sound bright, stable and resolved — the home base of most pop, rock and folk songs. It’s also written D♭.
C♯ chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play C♯
- Lay your index finger flat across fret 4, from the 5th string to the 1st string (the barre).
- Ring (3) on the 4th string, fret 6 (A♭).
- Ring (3) on the 3rd string, fret 6 (C♯).
- Ring (3) on the 2nd string, fret 6 (F).
- Strum from the 5th string down; don’t play string 6.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 1 and play the open C shape — it sounds as C♯. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in C♯
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯ | root |
| 3 | E♯ | major 3rd |
| 5 | G♯ | perfect 5th |
Progressions with C♯
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the C♯ chord?
- C♯ (C sharp major) has 3 notes: C♯, E♯, G♯.
- Is C♯ hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 1 you can use the open C shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between C♯ and C♯m?
- C♯m is C♯ E G♯. Major chords sound bright, stable and resolved — the home base of most pop, rock and folk songs.
- Is C♯ the same as D♭?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.