C sharp seventh arpeggio on piano
The C sharp seventh arpeggio (C♯7) has 4 notes: C♯, E♯, G♯, B (C sharp, E sharp, G sharp, and B), degrees 1, 3, 5, ♭7 of the chord. It uses 2 black keys: C♯, G♯.
- C♯ C sharp 1
- E♯ E sharp 3
- G♯ G sharp 5
- B ♭7
E♯ is the correct spelling in the chord formula; on the instrument it is the same note as F.
The lit keys are the notes of the arpeggio, with the name and the degree; the root (C♯) has the strongest color. Tap a key to hear it; Listen plays up and down. The small dot marks middle C (C4).
Fingering
This page does not show a fingering. In piano methods the arpeggio fingering changes with the key (black keys move the thumb crossing) and with the hand, and no single rule covers every arpeggio here. Follow the one in your method book or from your teacher.
Formula
- C♯
- 4
- E♯
- 3
- G♯
- 3
- B
- 2
- C♯
Degrees: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7 (root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh). Distance between the notes: 4 – 3 – 3 – 2 semitones, counting the step back to the upper root.
About the seventh chord
The dominant seventh chord carries a tension that "wants" to go somewhere: the third and the seventh form a tritone that resolves down a fifth (G7 → C). It is the V chord of any key, the sound of the blues (where every chord can take a seventh) and a staple of country and swing.
The chord and the scale
- C sharp seventh chord (C♯7) The chord on the keyboard, with its inversions
- C sharp Mixolydian scale The scale to practice with it: it has every note of the arpeggio plus the ones in between.
Other C sharp scales with every note of the arpeggio
More C sharp arpeggios
- Major (C♯)
- Minor (C♯m)
- Seventh (C♯7)
- Major seventh (C♯7M)
- Minor seventh (C♯m7)
- Half-diminished (C♯m7(♭5))
- Diminished seventh (C♯°7)
- Augmented (C♯+)
The seventh arpeggio in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the C sharp seventh arpeggio?
The C sharp seventh arpeggio (C♯7) has the notes C sharp, E sharp, G sharp, and B: degrees 1, 3, 5, ♭7 of the chord.
How do you play the C sharp seventh arpeggio on piano?
Start on C sharp and go up through the keys C♯, E♯, G♯, B to the C sharp above; for two octaves, repeat the pattern one octave higher. It uses 2 black keys: C♯, G♯.
Which scale goes with the C sharp seventh arpeggio?
The C sharp Mixolydian scale, which has every note of the arpeggio. These also have all of them: D flat Nordestina (Brazilian baião) scale, C sharp Phrygian dominant scale, and C sharp dominant diminished (half-whole) scale.