Construction
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| C♯ | Root | 1 |
| E | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| G♯♯ | Minor 6th | ♯5 |
| B | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
Fingering
| Note | Key color | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| C♯ | black | index finger (2) | little finger (5) |
| E | white | middle finger (3) | ring finger (4) |
| G♯♯ | white | ring finger (4) | middle finger (3) |
| B | white | little finger (5) | index finger (2) |
Right hand: index finger (2) on C♯, middle finger (3) on E, ring finger (4) on G♯♯, little finger (5) on B.
Left hand: little finger (5) on C♯, ring finger (4) on E, middle finger (3) on G♯♯, index finger (2) on B.
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the C♯ Minor 7♯5 is the tonic (i) chord of C♯ Minor, which shares the signature of its relative major, E Major: 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Chords in the Key of C♯ Minor
These are the triads built on each degree of C♯ Minor:
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes C♯ – E – G♯♯ – B aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell: