Home › Guitar chord chart › C# chords Standard tuning · open & barre shapes
C# Guitar Chords
Every common C# chord (also written Db) on guitar — major, minor, sevenths, sus, add9, diminished and more — with up to three ways to play each one, from open position to barre chords up the neck. Tap ▶ Strum to hear a shape, or Pick to hear it one string at a time.
C# C# major Notes: C# – F – G# · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 · Bright and stable — the most common chord there is.
Loop it C# chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-3-1-2-1) × C# F G# C# F C-shape, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 3 1 2 1 ▶ Strum Pick C# chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-6-6-4) 4fr × C# G# C# F G# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 6 6 4 ▶ Strum Pick C# chord — EADGBE tuning (9-11-11-10-9-9) 9fr C# G# C# F G# C# Barre, root on string 6, fret 9 9 11 11 10 9 9 ▶ Strum Pick
C#m C# minor Notes: C# – E – G# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 · Darker and sadder than major.
Loop it C#m chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-6-5-4) 4fr × C# G# C# E G# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 6 5 4 ▶ Strum Pick C#m chord — EADGBE tuning (9-11-11-9-9-9) 9fr C# G# C# E G# C# Barre, root on string 6, fret 9 9 11 11 9 9 9 ▶ Strum Pick C#m chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-13-14-12) 11fr × × C# G# C# E Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 13 14 12 ▶ Strum Pick
C#7 C# dominant 7th Notes: C# – F – G# – B · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 · Bluesy and restless; wants to move to the chord a fifth below.
Loop it C#7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-4-6-4) 4fr × C# G# B F G# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 4 6 4 ▶ Strum Pick C#7 chord — EADGBE tuning (9-11-9-10-9-9) 9fr C# G# B F G# C# Barre, root on string 6, fret 9 9 11 9 10 9 9 ▶ Strum Pick C#7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-13-12-13) 11fr × × C# G# B F Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 13 12 13 ▶ Strum Pick
C#maj7 C# major 7th Notes: C# – F – G# – C · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 · Soft, dreamy and jazzy.
Loop it C#maj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-3-1-1-1) × C# F G# C F C-shape, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 3 1 1 1 ▶ Strum Pick C#maj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-5-6-4) 4fr × C# G# C F G# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 5 6 4 ▶ Strum Pick C#maj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (9-X-10-10-9-X) 9fr × × C# C F G# Barre, root on string 6, fret 9 9 x 10 10 9 x ▶ Strum Pick
C#m7 C# minor 7th Notes: C# – E – G# – B · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7 · Mellow minor — soul, R&B and jazz.
Loop it C#m7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-4-5-4) 4fr × C# G# B E G# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 4 5 4 ▶ Strum Pick C#m7 chord — EADGBE tuning (9-11-9-9-9-9) 9fr C# G# B E G# C# Barre, root on string 6, fret 9 9 11 9 9 9 9 ▶ Strum Pick C#m7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-13-12-12) 11fr × × C# G# B E Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 13 12 12 ▶ Strum Pick
C#sus2 C# suspended 2nd Notes: C# – D# – G# · Formula: 1 – 2 – 5 · Open and airy: neither major nor minor.
Loop it C#sus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-6-4-4) 4fr × C# G# C# D# G# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 6 4 4 ▶ Strum Pick C#sus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-13-14-11) 11fr × × C# G# C# D# Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 13 14 11 ▶ Strum Pick
C#sus4 C# suspended 4th Notes: C# – F# – G# · Formula: 1 – 4 – 5 · Tense in a gentle way; usually resolves to major.
Loop it C#sus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-6-7-4) 4fr × C# G# C# F# G# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 6 7 4 ▶ Strum Pick C#sus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (9-11-11-11-9-9) 9fr C# G# C# F# G# C# Barre, root on string 6, fret 9 9 11 11 11 9 9 ▶ Strum Pick C#sus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-13-14-14) 11fr × × C# G# C# F# Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 13 14 14 ▶ Strum Pick
C#add9 C# add 9 Notes: C# – D# – F – G# · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 · A major chord with sparkle on top.
Loop it C#add9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-3-1-4-1) × C# F G# D# F C-shape, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 3 1 4 1 ▶ Strum Pick C#add9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-8-6-4) 4fr × C# G# D# F G# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 8 6 4 ▶ Strum Pick
C#6 C# major 6th Notes: C# – F – G# – A# · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 · Sweet, vintage sound — swing and country.
Loop it C#6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-6-6-6) 4fr × C# G# C# F A# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 6 6 6 ▶ Strum Pick C#6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-13-11-13) 11fr × × C# G# A# F Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 13 11 13 ▶ Strum Pick
C#m6 C# minor 6th Notes: C# – E – G# – A# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – 6 · Minor with a mysterious, film-noir twist.
Loop it C#m6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-6-5-6) 4fr × C# G# C# E A# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 6 5 6 ▶ Strum Pick C#m6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-13-11-12) 11fr × × C# G# A# E Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 13 11 12 ▶ Strum Pick
C#9 C# dominant 9th Notes: C# – D# – F – G# – B · Formula: 1 – 3 – (5) – ♭7 – 9 · Funky and soulful.
Loop it C#9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-3-4-4-4) × C# F B D# G# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 3 4 4 4 ▶ Strum Pick C#9 chord — EADGBE tuning (9-11-9-10-9-11) 9fr C# G# B F G# D# Barre, root on string 6, fret 9 9 11 9 10 9 11 ▶ Strum Pick
C#dim C# diminished Notes: C# – E – G · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 · Tense and unstable — a passing chord.
Loop it C#dim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-5-6-5-X) 4fr × × C# G C# E Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 5 6 5 x ▶ Strum Pick C#dim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-12-14-12) 11fr × × C# G C# E Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 12 14 12 ▶ Strum Pick
C#dim7 C# diminished 7th Notes: C# – E – G – A# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7 · Dramatic and symmetrical: repeats every 3 frets.
Loop it C#dim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-5-6-5-6) 4fr × C# G C# E A# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 5 6 5 6 ▶ Strum Pick C#dim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-12-11-12) 11fr × × C# G A# E Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 12 11 12 ▶ Strum Pick
C#m7b5 C# half-diminished (m7♭5) Notes: C# – E – G – B · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7 · The ii chord of minor keys.
Loop it C#m7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-5-4-5-X) 4fr × × C# G B E Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 5 4 5 x ▶ Strum Pick C#m7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-12-12-12) 11fr × × C# G B E Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 12 12 12 ▶ Strum Pick
C#aug C# augmented Notes: C# – F – A · Formula: 1 – 3 – ♯5 · Dreamy and unresolved; repeats every 4 frets.
Loop it C#aug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-7-6-6-5) 4fr × C# A C# F A Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 7 6 6 5 ▶ Strum Pick C#aug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-11-14-14-13) 11fr × × C# A C# F Root on string 4, fret 11 x x 11 14 14 13 ▶ Strum Pick
C#5 C# power chord (5) Notes: C# – G# · Formula: 1 – 5 · No 3rd, so it suits distortion — rock and metal.
Loop it C#5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-4-6-6-X-X) 4fr × × × C# G# C# Barre, root on string 5, fret 4 x 4 6 6 x x ▶ Strum Pick C#5 chord — EADGBE tuning (9-11-11-X-X-X) 9fr × × × C# G# C# Barre, root on string 6, fret 9 9 11 11 x x x ▶ Strum Pick
Where C# chords show up
C# major is the I, IV or V chord in the keys of Ab, Db, F#. C#m is the ii, iii or vi chord in A, E, B. Try a progression that uses it in the progressions library , or find the key of your own song with the key finder .
How to read these chord diagrams
Strings run left to right from the thick low E (string 6) to the thin high E (string 1). A dot means press that fret; O above the nut means play the string open, × means don't play it. A bar across several strings is a barre — press them all with one finger. Red dots are the root note (C#). The letters under each diagram are the notes that sound.
Not in standard tuning? The chord finder works out shapes for any tuning, and the tunings library has chord charts for 20 alternate tunings.
Questions How do you play a C# chord on guitar? The most common C# major shape is shown first on this page as a barre chord; the diagram shows which frets to press and which strings to skip.
What notes are in a C# chord? C# major contains C# – F – G#. C# minor lowers the middle note by one fret.