C#/G# on guitar: C sharp with G sharp in the bass
C#/G# is the C sharp major chord (C♯, E♯, G♯) with its 5th, G♯, as the lowest note: the 2nd inversion of C#. The notes are the same as in C#; only the one at the bottom changes.
- Notes
- C♯E♯G♯
- Bass
- G♯ 5th of the chord
How to play C#/G# on guitar
-
Shape 1 · fret 4 · barre
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Shape 2 · fret 1
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Shape 3 · fret 6 · barre
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Shape 4 · fret 9 · barre
Where C#/G# shows up
The 5th in the bass is unstable and asks to move. The textbook use is the cadence: C#/G# → G#7 → C#, with the bass holding the same note through the first two chords (the "cadential six-four").
Other positions of C#
Frequently asked questions
What does C#/G# mean?
C#/G# reads "C# over G♯": you play C# and the lowest note is G♯. In a chord symbol, whatever comes after the slash is always the bass.
What is the difference between C#/G# and C#?
The notes are the same (C♯, E♯, G♯); only the lowest one changes. With G♯ in the bass, C# is in 2nd inversion, and the bass line can move by step between chords.
How do you play C#/G# on guitar?
The shapes on this page go from easiest to hardest. In all of them G♯ is the lowest note; the low strings that would sound below it are not played (x).