Learn › C Sharp Major Chord Inversions (C#, C#/E#, C#/G#)
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C Sharp Major Chord Inversions (C#, C#/E#, C#/G#)
The C sharp major chord has three positions. Put E# in the bass for the 1st inversion (C#/E#) and G# in the bass for the 2nd inversion (C#/G#). Root position starts on C#. Below: each position on the keyboard, how to tell them apart, the fingering for each one and a progression that uses them.
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How to tell the C# inversions apart
Look for the fourth: it sits on top in the 1st inversion and at the bottom in the 2nd.
| Position | Bass | Name | Figured bass | Shape (bottom to top) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | C# | C# | 5/3 | major 3rd + minor 3rd |
| 1st inversion | E# | C#/E# | 6 (6/3) | minor 3rd + perfect 4th |
| 2nd inversion | G# | C#/G# | 6/4 | perfect 4th + major 3rd |
C sharp major chord: root position, 1st and 2nd inversion
Root position starts on C#, the 1st inversion on E#, the 2nd on G#.
Root position: C# E# G#
1st inversion: E# G# C#
2nd inversion: G# C# E#
- Root position: starts on C#, a black key; black keys: C#, G#
- 1st inversion: starts on E#, a white key; black keys: G#, C#
- 2nd inversion: starts on G#, a black key; black keys: G#, C#
Why C# inversions matter: C# → F#/C# → G#/B# → C#
This is the reason pianists learn inversions: C# → F#/C# → G#/B# → C# keeps the hand still while the chords change. The common note C# stays under the same finger.
- From C# to F#/C#: C# stays, E# → F#, G# → A#.
- From F#/C# to G#/B#: C# → B#, F# → D#, A# → G#.
- From G#/B# to C#: B# → C#, D# → E#, G# stays.
Fingering for each C# inversion
| Position | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|
| Root position (C# E# G#) | 1-3-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 1st inversion (E# G# C#) | 1-2-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 2nd inversion (G# C# E#) | 1-3-5 | 5-2-1 |
Keep the thumb on the lowest note in the right hand and the little finger on the lowest note in the left.
Make the inversions automatic
ChordRunner accepts every voicing, so you can drill C#/E# and C#/G# at speed between other chords. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Play the demoThe C# chord · All piano chords · Chord inversions explained
Common questions
What notes are in the C# chord 1st inversion?
E# G# C#, from the bottom up. It is still C#; the slash name C#/E# tells you that E# is the lowest note.
How do I recognise C#/G# on the piano?
Look at the lowest interval. In C#/G# it is a perfect fourth, G# to C#; the top note of that fourth, C#, is the root.
What fingering do I use for C# inversions?
Right hand: 1-3-5 for root position and 2nd inversion, 1-2-5 for the 1st inversion. Left hand: 5-3-1 for root position and 1st inversion, 5-2-1 for the 2nd inversion.
When are C# inversions used?
Whenever C# follows or precedes a nearby chord. In C# → F#/C# → G#/B# → C# the bass walks by small steps and the right hand hardly moves, which is how accompaniments sound smooth.
Can I practise C#/E# and C#/G# with a MIDI keyboard?
Yes. ChordRunner detects a USB MIDI keyboard automatically and also listens through the microphone to an acoustic piano. Every inversion of C# is accepted, so you can drill them in any order.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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