C sharp minor arpeggio on piano
The C sharp minor arpeggio (C♯m) has 3 notes: C♯, E, G♯ (C sharp, E, and G sharp), degrees 1, ♭3, 5 of the chord. It uses 2 black keys: C♯, G♯.
- C♯ C sharp 1
- E ♭3
- G♯ G sharp 5
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♯
- 3
- E
- 4
- G♯
- 5
- C♯
Degrees: 1 · ♭3 · 5 (root, minor third, perfect fifth). Distance between the notes: 3 – 4 – 5 semitones, counting the step back to the upper root.
About the minor chord
The minor third makes the chord darker, wistful or inward-looking. In a major key it shows up on the ii, iii and vi degrees (A minor in C major); in a minor key it is home base, from romantic ballads to folk songs.
The chord and the scale
- C sharp minor chord (C♯m) The chord on the keyboard, with its inversions
- C sharp natural minor 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 minor arpeggio in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the C sharp minor arpeggio?
The C sharp minor arpeggio (C♯m) has the notes C sharp, E, and G sharp: degrees 1, ♭3, 5 of the chord.
How do you play the C sharp minor arpeggio on piano?
Start on C sharp and go up through the keys C♯, E, G♯ 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 minor arpeggio?
The C sharp minor scale, which has every note of the arpeggio. These also have all of them: C sharp harmonic minor scale, C sharp melodic minor scale, C sharp minor pentatonic scale, C sharp blues scale, C sharp major blues scale, C sharp Dorian scale, C sharp Phrygian scale, and C sharp dominant diminished (half-whole) scale.