Chord · Piano
C♯ Minor Chord · Piano
Interactive keyboard
Highlighted notes form this chord.
Notes
C♯ · E · G♯
Root: C♯
Intervals
1 · ♭3 · 5
How it is built
This chord starts on C♯ and applies the intervals 1, ♭3, 5. The result contains 3 distinct pitch classes per octave.
Explore related combinations
Guide and musical context
About C♯ Minor Piano Chord
C♯ Minor Piano chord contains C♯, E, G♯. Its sound is darker and more introspective than a major triad.
Character and sound
Darker and more introspective than a major triad.
Musical context and history
The minor triad shares the major triad’s basic tonal role but replaces the major third with a minor third. That small interval change creates a strongly different color.
How and where it is used
It is common as a tonic in minor keys, as the relative-minor harmony of major keys and throughout pop, rock, folk and film music.
On piano, the notes can be distributed between both hands and across different octaves. The interactive keyboard makes it easy to verify pitches and experiment with inversions or registers without changing the harmony. Everything you see and hear on this page comes from the same note set shown above.
Harmonic and musical relationships
The C♯ minor harmony can be compared with its parallel major, which keeps the same root, and its relative major at E. The dominant a fifth above, A♭, is another important reference.
The formula on this page is 1 · ♭3 · 5 and, from C♯, produces the notes C♯ · E · G♯.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C♯ Minor Piano chord?
The notes are C♯, E, G♯.
What is its interval formula?
The formula is 1 · ♭3 · 5.
How does it sound and what is it used for?
Darker and more introspective than a major triad. It is common as a tonic in minor keys, as the relative-minor harmony of major keys and throughout pop, rock, folk and film music.
How can I check it on Piano?
Use the interactive diagram on this page and press Play or Note by note. The highlighted positions, written notes and playback all use the same pitch collection.