Learn all about the C-sharp major scale on piano, including its notes, diatonic chords, finger positions, relative minor, and fun songs in this key.
Are you interested in learning how to play the C-sharp major scale on piano? This scale is an interesting and energetic key, so knowing it can unlock some fascinating music! Let’s start learning how to play this scale on the piano and the pieces or songs you can learn in this key.
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Interesting background on the C-sharp major scale
The C-sharp major piano scale creates a unique and intriguing key in the world of music:
- Complexity in notation: C-sharp major is known for its complexity due to its key signature, which consists of seven sharps. This can make reading and writing music in C-sharp major more challenging than in keys with fewer sharps. One of the most challenging pieces ever composed for piano was written in C-sharp major. This piece is known as “Ondine” from Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55 and was composed in 1908 by the French impressionist composer Maurice Ravel.
- Character and mood: The key of C-sharp major is often associated with a bright, yet sometimes intense and dramatic, character. It is less commonly used than other major keys but can evoke a distinctively luminous and energetic mood when employed.
- Usage in classical music: Despite its complexity, C-sharp major has been used by some classical composers for specific effects. For example, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude and Fugue, WTC Book 1, No. 3, BWV 848 is written in this key, and sounds very bright, bouncy, and energetic.
C-sharp major’s rarity and distinctiveness make it a fascinating key for composers and musicians who want to explore its unique qualities and expressive potential.
To learn more about all kinds of piano scales, check out our All Piano Scales Guide: Major, Minor & More!
The notes of the C-sharp major scale
The scale is composed of all sharps, including E sharp and B sharp, which are the same as F natural and C natural, respectively. This makes C-sharp major one of the most complex scales in terms of notation.
The scale of C♯ minor starts on C♯ and has seven sharps in its key signature. The notes are C♯ (C sharp), D♯ (D sharp), E♯ (E sharp, enharmonically equivalent to F natural), F♯ (F sharp), G♯ (G sharp), A♯ (A sharp), B♯ (B sharp, enharmonically equivalent to C natural), and C♯ (C sharp).
C-sharp major key signature
This key has seven sharps in its key signature, F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯. The sharps will always be written in this order on the key signature.
Here’s a useful tip to help you identify a key from a key signature with sharps. Find the last sharp in the key signature, and then go up one half step. That will be the tonic, the first note of the scale, and the name of the key signature. If you look at the key signature below, the last sharp is B♯. One half step up from B♯ sharp is C♯. This is the key of C♯ major.
The relative minor of C-sharp major
The relative minor of C♯ major is A♯ minor.
In music theory, relative major and minor keys share the same key signature. Both C♯ major and A♯ minor have seven sharps in their key signatures. However, A♯ minor is rarely used because of the large number of sharps. Instead, its enharmonic equivalent, B♭ minor, is easier to use with five flats, and thus appears more often in musical compositions.
How do you play the C-sharp major piano scale?
Right-hand placement for the C♯ major scale when ascending:
2 on C♯
3 on D♯
Pass the thumb under
1 on E♯ (enharmonic to F)
2 on F♯
3 on G♯
4 on A♯
Pass the thumb under
1 on B♯ (enharmonic to C)
2 on C♯
Left-hand placement for the C-sharp major scale:
3 on C♯
2 on D♯
1 on E♯ (enharmonic to F)
Cross the 4th finger over
4 on F♯
3 on G♯
2 on A♯
1 on B♯ (enharmonic to C)
Cross the 3rd finger over
3 on C♯
When coming down the C-sharp major scale, reverse the finger order like this:
Right hand:
2 on C♯
1 on B♯
Cross the 4th finger over
4 on A♯ (enharmonic to F)
3 on G♯
2 on F♯
1 on E♯
Cross the 3rd finger over
3 on D♯ (enharmonic to C)
2 on C♯
Left hand:
3 on C♯
Pass the thumb under
1 on B♯ (enharmonic to C)
2 on A♯
3 on G♯
4 on F♯
Pass the thumb under
1 on E♯ (enharmonic to F)
2 on D♯
3 on C♯
Chords in the key of C-sharp major
Here are the chords built on each scale degree in the C-sharp major scale, along with their Roman numeral representations:
C♯ (C-sharp major – I): C♯ – E♯ – G♯
D♯m (D-sharp minor – ii): D♯ – F♯ – A♯
E♯m (E-sharp minor – iii): E♯ – G♯ – B♯ ** Enharmonic with F Major
F♯maj (F-sharp major – IV): F♯ – A♯ – C♯
G♯maj (G-sharp major – V): G♯ – B♯ – D♯
A♯m (A-sharp minor – vi): A♯ – C♯ – E♯
B♯dim (B-sharp diminished – vii°): B♯ – D♯ – F♯ ** Enharmonic with C diminished
The above chords can be used to create chord progressions in the key of C-sharp major. You can extend these chords into 7th chords, 9th chords, etc., by stacking additional thirds on top of these triads to create richer harmonies.
If you’d like some handy reference guides for chords and triads in all keys, download these free resources from the Hoffman Academy Store:
Music in the key of C-sharp major
Classical:
- Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp Major, WTC Book 1, No. 3, BWV 848 – Johann Sebastian Bach
- Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in C-sharp Major – Erich Wolfgang Korngold
- The C-sharp major key signature first appears at 14:06.
- “Ondine” from Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55 – Maurice Ravel
Pop/Rock:
- “Sitting on A Fence” – The Rolling Stones
- “Oh Santa” – Mariah Carey
We hope you’ve had fun exploring the C-sharp major piano scale! To learn more about minor scales and how to play them, check out Hoffman Academy’s free guide to all major scales. For more piano resources, sign up for our Premium membership!