Music theory > Lessons > Pitch of sounds > Scales > Major scales > C sharp Major scale

C sharp key signature

C sharp Major scale

the C sharp Major scale has just a seven sharp (7 ♯) and according to the sharps order they are the F sharp, C sharp, G sharp, D sharp, A sharp, E sharp and the B♯ (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯ & B♯).
The names of the notes in the C sharp Major scale are: C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯

Like all other major scales, C sharp major scale is composed by this sequence of whole steps and half steps (tones and semitones ):

:1 Whole step / 1 Whole step / 1 half step / 1 Whole step / 1 Whole step / 1 Whole step / 1 half step

: 1 Tone / 1 Tone / 1 semitone / 1 Tone / 1 Tone / 1 Tone / 1 semitone

whole steps and half steps in C sharp major scale

Key signature of C sharp major scale

The key signature of C sharp Major has seven sharps (7♯).

key signature 7 sharps

C sharp Major scale in most common clefs

Here is C sharp Major in most common clefs: treble clef, bass clef, tenor clef and alto clef.

C sharp Major scale in treble clef (G-clef)

Below is the C sharp Major scale in treble clef:

C sharp Major scale in bass clef

Below is the C sharp Major scale in bass clef:

C sharp Major scale in alto clef

Below is the C sharp Major scale in alto clef:

C sharp Major scale in tenor clef

Below is the C sharp Major scale in tenor clef:

Scale degrees of C sharp major

The degrees of C sharp major scale are:

C♯ : degree I (Tonic)
D♯ : degree II (Supertonic)
E♯ : degree III (Mediant)
F♯ : degree IV (Subdominant)
G♯ : degree V (Dominant)
A♯ : degree VI (Submediant)
B♯ : degree VII (Leading Tone)

Closely related keys of C sharp Major

Closely related keys of C sharp Major are:

- G sharp Major
- F sharp Major
- E sharp minor
- A sharp minor
- D sharp minor

Relative minor key of C sharp Major

The relative minor key of C sharp Major is A sharp minor and below if the A sharp minor natural scale:

Parallel Key of C sharp Major

Parallel Key of C sharp Major (or homonymous key) is C sharp minor scale, here is the C sharp harmonic minor scale :

Leading Tone of C sharp Major

The leading Tone of C sharp Major is D sharp, because D sharp is the degree VII and is distant to a seventh major of the tonic, or an half step (semitone ) lower than the tonic).

Chords of C sharp major scale

Here are triad chords for C sharp Major scale:

Chord I : C♯ Major (Notes: C♯ E♯ G♯)
Chord II : D♯ minor (Notes: D♯ F♯ A♯)
Chord III : E♯ minor (Notes: E♯ G♯ B♯)
Chord IV : F♯ Major (Notes: F♯ A♯ C♯)
Chord V : G♯ Major (Notes: G♯ B♯ D♯)
Chord VI : A♯ minor (Notes: A♯ C♯ E♯)
Chord VII : B♯ diminished (Notes: B♯ D♯ F♯)

C sharp major scale on a piano

Below is the C sharp major scale on a piano:

You will notice that only the white piano keys are used. Music notes must be played successively from left to right to obtain the ascending scale, or from right to left for the descending scale.

C sharp major triad chord

The C sharp major triad chord as a root note (C sharp), a major third (C sharp / E sharp) and a perfect fifth (C sharp / G sharp):

And below is the C sharp major triad chord on a piano keyboard:

Authentic cadence (perfect cadence) in C sharp major

Here is an Authentic cadence (perfect cadence ) in C sharp major :

C sharp major scale video

Here is a C sharp major scale video:

C sharp major on the circle of fifths

You can find C sharp major on the circle of fifths and its key signature, relative minor key and closely related keys :

Famous works C sharp major

Here are some works by famous composers composed in C sharp major:

This key is not very often used because because it has a lot of accidentals.

Sometimes there are some unusual websites, such as http://www.cisdur.de/e_index.html which lists works that have 7 accidentals (7 ♭ and 7♯).

Prelude and Fugue No.3 in C sharp major by J.S. BACH

The Prelude and Fugue No.3 in C sharp major by J.S. BACH is composed in C sharp major, and although this fugue is a masterpiece of classical music, it is also a formidable exercise for pianists because this key is difficult to play. Here is an excerpt from the fugue: