Advanced · With barre

C♯m

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Fingering and position

Place the index on the 4th fret of the A string, the ring finger on the 6th fret of the D string, the little finger on the 6th fret of the G string, the middle finger on the 5th fret of the B string, the index on the 4th fret of the high E string. One string is muted, do not play it. A barre covers the 4th fret between strings 1 and 5.

Difficulty

The C♯m chord is advanced: often a barre or a stretched fingering. Tackle it once your basics are fluid.

Often paired chords

Exercise: shuffle it in

A chord on its own gets forgotten. The right reflex: shuffle it with the chords you already know. Launch a shuffle that includes this chord and play it 10 times in different contexts.

The C♯m chord truly comes alive in motion. Launch a shuffle that includes it and play it across 3 or 4 different contexts: that is the best way to embed it in finger memory. Category: Advanced.

Play a shuffle with C♯m

Frequently asked questions

What is the fingering for the C♯m chord on guitar?
Place the index on the 4th fret of the A string, the ring finger on the 6th fret of the D string, the little finger on the 6th fret of the G string, the middle finger on the 5th fret of the B string, the index on the 4th fret of the high E string. One string is muted, do not play it. A barre covers the 4th fret between strings 1 and 5.
Is the C♯m chord easy for a beginner?
The C♯m chord is advanced: often a barre or a stretched fingering. Tackle it once your basics are fluid.
Does the C♯m chord require a barre?
Yes, C♯m is played with a barre at fret 4. Lay your index flat across the strings and place the other fingers according to the diagram.
Which chords pair well with C♯m on guitar?
C♯m pairs naturally with B, F♯m, Amaj7, Dm7. Practise them in a shuffle to memorise the transitions.

Further reading