C# Minor
Key Signature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tonic | C# |
| Mode | Minor |
| Accidentals | 4 sharps |
| Key Signature Notes | F#, C#, G#, D# |
C# minor has four sharps and a brooding, intense quality. It appears prominently in Romantic piano literature and modern rock, associated with deep emotional expression.
Diatonic Chords
The seven diatonic chords of C# Minor — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord Type | Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Minor | C# Minor |
| 2 | ii° | Diminished | D# Diminished |
| 3 | III | Major | E Major |
| 4 | iv | Minor | F# Minor |
| 5 | v | Minor | G# Minor |
| 6 | VI | Major | A Major |
| 7 | VII | Major | B Major |
Related Keys
- Relative Major
- E Major — shares the same key signature.
- Parallel Major
- C Sharp Major — same tonic, different key signature.
See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.
Scales in C# Minor
Common scales built from the C# tonic:
Transposing Instrument Context
Sharp-key signatures like C# Minor are comfortable for open-string instruments (guitar, violin). Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in D# minor to sound C# Minor. Eb instruments (alto saxophone, Eb clarinet) read in A# minor to sound C# Minor. Standard guitar tuning (E A D G B E) resonates naturally in C# Minor.