C♯ Major Guitar Chord (C♯)
C♯ and D♭ are the same chord. Jazz charts write D♭, guitar tabs write C♯. x43121 is the compact low grip, and the familiar barre shapes sit further up the neck.
C♯ splits a pie with D♭.
C♯ chord shapes in standard tuning
How to play it
Lay your index finger flat across the top 3 strings (from the G (3rd) string up) at fret 1. That barre is the backbone of this C♯ shape. Then add your middle finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 2, your ring finger on the D (4th) string at fret 3, and your pinky finger on the A (5th) string at fret 4. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | C♯ |
| 3 | major third | E♯ (same pitch as F) |
| 5 | perfect fifth | G♯ |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see C♯ in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More C♯ chords
- C♯ minor (C♯m)
- C♯ dominant 7th (C♯7)
- C♯ minor 7th (C♯m7)
- C♯ major 7th (C♯maj7)
- C♯ suspended 4th (C♯sus4)
Nearby major chords
C♯ FAQ
What notes are in C♯?
C♯ contains C♯, E♯, and G♯. That's the root (C♯), the major third, and the perfect fifth.
Is C♯ a barre chord?
The most common C♯ shape (x-4-3-1-2-1) is a barre chord. Your index finger bars fret 1 across 3 strings. There is no standard open-position shape for this chord in standard tuning, but the diagrams above include every practical alternative up the neck.
What is the easiest way to play C♯ on guitar?
Start with the barre · 1fr shape x-4-3-1-2-1. Lay your index finger flat across the top 3 strings (from the G (3rd) string up) at fret 1. That barre is the backbone of this C♯ shape. Then add your middle finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 2, your ring finger on the D (4th) string at fret 3, and your pinky finger on the A (5th) string at fret 4. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.