C#m chord (C sharp minor) on bass
C#m (C sharp minor) has three notes: C sharp, E and G sharp. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. In major keys, C#m is the ii chord in B major, the iii in A major and the vi in E major.
How to play C#m on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 1 on G.
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| Symbol | C#m |
|---|---|
| Also written | C#min, C#- |
| Notes | C# E G# |
| Formula | 1 b3 5 |
| Intervals | root, minor third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Minor chord |
C#m across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 0 E (flat 3), fret 4 G# (5), fret 9 C# (1), fret 12 E (flat 3), fret 16 G# (5), fret 21 C# (1), fret 24 E (flat 3).
- A string: fret 4 C# (1), fret 7 E (flat 3), fret 11 G# (5), fret 16 C# (1), fret 19 E (flat 3), fret 23 G# (5).
- D string: fret 2 E (flat 3), fret 6 G# (5), fret 11 C# (1), fret 14 E (flat 3), fret 18 G# (5), fret 23 C# (1).
- G string: fret 1 G# (5), fret 6 C# (1), fret 9 E (flat 3), fret 13 G# (5), fret 18 C# (1), fret 21 E (flat 3).
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Questions
What notes are in the C#m chord?
C#m (C sharp minor) has three notes: C sharp, E and G sharp. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. C# is the root, E is the minor third and G# is the perfect fifth.
How do you play C#m on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 5th: 1 5, root on the E string, fret 9. Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
What key is C#m in?
In major keys, C#m is the ii chord in B major, the iii in A major and the vi in E major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between C#m and Db?
C#m has a minor 3rd, E. Db major raises it a half step to F. The root and 5th stay the same.