Learn › C Sharp Minor Chord Inversions (C#m, C#m/E, C#m/G#)
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C Sharp Minor Chord Inversions (C#m, C#m/E, C#m/G#)
To invert C#m, move the bottom note up an octave: C# E G# becomes E G# C# (1st inversion, C#m/E), then G# C# E (2nd inversion, C#m/G#). 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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C#m inversions on the keyboard
The lowest note names the inversion. The chord is still C#m.
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#
Move from C#m to F#m and G# without jumping
This is the reason pianists learn inversions: C#m → F#m/C# → G#/B# → C#m keeps the hand still while the chords change. The common note C# stays under the same finger.
- From C#m to F#m/C#: C# stays, E → F#, G# → A.
- From F#m/C# to G#/B#: C# → B#, F# → D#, A → G#.
- From G#/B# to C#m: B# → C#, D# → E, G# stays.
Spotting each inversion of C#m
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#m | 5/3 | minor 3rd + major 3rd |
| 1st inversion | E | C#m/E | 6 (6/3) | major 3rd + perfect 4th |
| 2nd inversion | G# | C#m/G# | 6/4 | perfect 4th + minor 3rd |
Both hands, all three positions
| 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 |
The 1st inversion is the only one that changes the right hand: 1-2-5, because the fourth sits on top.
Practise C#m in every position
In ChordRunner any inversion of C#m counts: play root position, C#m/E or C#m/G# and the runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Play the demoThe C#m chord · All piano chords · Chord inversions explained
Common questions
What is the first inversion of C sharp minor?
The 1st inversion of C#m is E G# C#, written C#m/E: the third, E, is in the bass and C# moves to the top. In figured bass it is a 6 chord.
How do I recognise C#m/G# on the piano?
Look at the lowest interval. In C#m/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#m 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.
Why learn C#m inversions?
They let you change chords without moving the hand. C#m → F#m/C# → G#/B# → C#m uses inversions so most notes stay where they are and the others move by a step.
Does ChordRunner accept C#m in any inversion?
Yes. Play C#m/E, C#m/G# or root position on a USB MIDI keyboard, detected automatically, or on an acoustic piano through the microphone: if the notes are C#, E and G#, it counts.
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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