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 | white | thumb (1) | little finger (5) |
| E♭ | black | index finger (2) | middle finger (3) |
| G♯ | black | middle finger (3) | index finger (2) |
| B♭ | black | little finger (5) | thumb (1) |
Right hand: thumb (1) on C, index finger (2) on E♭, middle finger (3) on G♯, little finger (5) on B♭.
Left hand: little finger (5) on C, middle finger (3) on E♭, index finger (2) on G♯, thumb (1) 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: 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭).
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
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: