C♯6 chord on piano
C♯6 is C♯, E♯, G♯ and A♯. C♯ is the black key between C and D. Tap Play, then slow it down.
root position · C♯–E♯–G♯–A♯ · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · A♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
How to play C♯6 on piano
From C♯, go 4 half steps up to E♯, 3 half steps up to G♯ then 2 half steps up to A♯. That's the whole chord: 4 keys.
- Right hand: 1 on C♯, 2 on E♯, 3 on G♯ and 5 on A♯.
- Left hand: 5 on C♯, 3 on E♯, 2 on G♯ and 1 on A♯.
- On the keyboard it's black, white, black and black keys.
C♯6 inversions
- root position: C♯–E♯–G♯–A♯. Right hand 1-2-3-5.
- 1st inversion: E♯–G♯–A♯–C♯, with E♯ at the bottom. Fingers 1-2-3-5.
- 2nd inversion: G♯–A♯–C♯–E♯, with G♯ at the bottom. RH 1-2-3-5.
- 3rd inversion: A♯–C♯–E♯–G♯, A♯ lowest. Right hand 1-2-3-5.
Nobody plays every chord in root position. The inversions let C♯6 sit wherever the previous chord left your hand.
Moving between C♯6 and its neighbours
These are the changes you'll meet most often with C♯6, using the first shape of each chord.
- F♯ (IV in D♭ major): C♯6 to F♯: play F♯ in 2nd inversion (C♯–F♯–A♯) and C♯ and A♯ stay under the same fingers, while E♯ moves up to F♯. F♯ on piano
- A♭ (V in D♭ major): C♯6 to A♭: play A♭ in 1st inversion (C–E♭–A♭) and A♭ stays under the same finger, while C♯ moves down to C and C♯ up to E♭. A♭ on piano
- B♭m (vi in D♭ major): C♯6 to B♭m: play B♭m in 1st inversion (D♭–F–B♭) and D♭, F and B♭ stay under the same fingers. B♭m on piano
C♯6 is C♯ major with a major sixth added. C♯6 is a vintage ending chord; hold it at the end of a swing or ballad tune instead of plain C♯. The one-by-one button above makes that quality easy to hear.
Getting C♯6 under your fingers
Roll the chord up and back down, C♯, E♯, G♯, A♯, G♯, E♯, C♯, before playing it as a block. Then climb the inversions: C♯–E♯–G♯–A♯, then E♯–G♯–A♯–C♯, then G♯–A♯–C♯–E♯, then A♯–C♯–E♯–G♯.
The keys of C♯6
C♯6 is a major sixth chord, 1–3–5–6 from C♯. Root position, from the bottom: how C♯6 is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| C♯ | black key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| E♯ | white key | RH 2 · LH 3 | major third |
| G♯ | black key | RH 3 · LH 2 | perfect fifth |
| A♯ | black key | RH 5 · LH 1 | major sixth |
D♭6 is another spelling of C♯6. Same keys, same sound.
Keys and progressions with C♯6
C♯6 on guitar and ukulele
The same notes on another instrument: C♯6 on guitar and C♯6 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.
Related C♯ chords on piano
Other major sixth chords
C♯6 on piano: questions
What notes are in C♯6 on piano?
C♯, E♯, G♯ and A♯: C♯ (black key), E♯ (white key), G♯ (black key) and A♯ (black key). Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1.
How do you play C♯6 on piano?
Press C♯, E♯, G♯ and A♯ together (3 black, 1 white). Right hand: 1 on C♯, 2 on E♯, 3 on G♯ and 5 on A♯.
What are the inversions of C♯6?
1st inversion (E♯–G♯–A♯–C♯), 2nd inversion (G♯–A♯–C♯–E♯) and 3rd inversion (A♯–C♯–E♯–G♯), after root position (C♯–E♯–G♯–A♯). Only the lowest note changes.
What does C♯6 look like on the keyboard?
black, white, black and black keys.
Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside C♯6. Updated September 2026.