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Guitar scales · Natural minor (Aeolian)

C♯ minor scale on guitar (C# minor)

The C♯ minor scale has seven notes: C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A and B. As degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6 and ♭7.

Notes and pattern

The C♯ minor scale

The of a major key: same notes, starting on the 6th degree. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2 and 2 : whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole.

C♯ minor has the same notes as E major, starting from C♯. See that scale.

  1. C♯1
  2. D♯2
  3. E♭3
  4. F♯4
  5. G♯5
  6. A♭6
  7. B♭7
EADGBE0135791215C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯EF♯G♯ABD♯EF♯ABD♯EF♯G♯ABD♯EF♯G♯ABD♯EG♯ABD♯EF♯G♯ABD♯EF♯G♯ABEF♯G♯ABD♯EF♯
  • C♯, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

C♯ minor in five positions

The splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.

C♯ minor · the whole neck

Five positions, each overlapping the next, repeating every 12 frets.

DDCAGGEEEADGBE0135791215C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯EF♯G♯ABD♯EF♯ABD♯EF♯G♯ABD♯EF♯G♯ABD♯EG♯ABD♯EF♯G♯ABD♯EF♯G♯ABEF♯G♯ABD♯EF♯
  • Root (C♯)
  • Scale tone

Chords

Chords from the C♯ minor scale

Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get its chords.

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Hear the chords and progressions in C♯ minor

Same root

Other scales on C♯

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

C♯ minor, in short

What notes are in the C♯ minor scale?
The C♯ minor scale has seven notes: C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A and B. As degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6 and ♭7.
What chords go with the C♯ minor scale?
The chords built on C♯ minor are C♯m, D♯°, E, F♯m, G♯m, A and B.
What is the relative major of C♯ minor?
C♯ minor has the same notes as E major, starting from C♯.
All guitar scales