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C♯ power chord (C♯5)

C♯5 is C♯ and G♯, the root and the fifth above it. The easiest way to play it is with the root on the 5th string at the 4th fret, x466xx: your 1st finger on the root and your 3rd and 4th fingers on the 4th and 3rd strings, both at the 6th fret. Strum only those three strings.

C♯5

C♯ power chord · C♯ G♯ · root and fifth

  • 4fr134C♯G♯C♯

    4th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    x466xx

  • 9fr134C♯G♯C♯

    9th fret

    Root on the 6th string

    9-11-11-x-x-x

  • 11fr134C♯G♯C♯

    11th fret

    Root on the 4th string

    x-x-11-13-14-x

Or pick another power chord to see and hear it

Root

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are C♯, the root. Chug plays four short strums, the sound of a palm resting on the strings.

How to play C♯5

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Root on the 5th string, 4th fret

    x466xx
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 4th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 6th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 6th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
    • Mute the 2nd and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

  2. 2. Root on the 6th string, 9th fret

    9-11-11-x-x-x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 6th string, 9th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 11th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 4th string, 11th fret.
    • Mute the 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

  3. 3. Root on the 4th string, 11th fret

    x-x-11-13-14-x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 11th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 13th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 14th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th and 5th strings: strum from the 4th.
    • Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

Notes in C♯5

C♯5 is C♯ and G♯. G♯ is the fifth above C♯, seven half steps up, and most shapes play C♯ again an octave higher on top. It has no third, so it is neither major nor minor: add F and it is C♯ major, written D♭ major; add E and it is C♯ minor. That is why one power chord fits a riff in either key.

Power chords that go with C♯5

F♯5244xxxThe fourth: C♯5 to F♯5 is the I to IV move under blues and rock.B5x244xxA whole step down: C♯5, B5 and back is rock’s ♭VII move.E5022xxxThree frets up the same string: the move in punk and metal riffs.A♭5466xxxThe fifth: A♭5 pulls back home to C♯5.A5x022xxThe dark ♭VI: heavy riffs climb A5, B5, C♯5.

More power chords

C5D5E♭5E5F5F♯5G5A♭5A5B♭5B5

Or see every one at once on the power chord chart, with three riffs to play.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play C#5 on guitar?

The easiest way is with the root on the 5th string at the 4th fret, x466xx: your 1st finger on the root and your 3rd and 4th fingers on the 4th and 3rd strings, both at the 6th fret. Strum just those strings and let the others stay quiet.

What notes are in C#5?

C♯ and G♯: the root and the fifth above it, seven half steps up. Most shapes play C♯ again an octave higher on top, so three strings sound two notes.

Is C#5 major or minor?

Neither. A major or minor chord gets its sound from its third, and C♯5 has none, so it fits under C♯ major and C♯ minor alike. Add the third and it becomes one of them.

What is another way to play C#5?

With the root on the 6th string at the 9th fret, 9-11-11-x-x-x: your 1st finger on the root and your 3rd and 4th fingers on the 5th and 4th strings, both at the 11th fret. The shape is the same on every string pair, so it moves anywhere on the neck.

What chords go with C#5?

F♯5, B5, E5 and A♭5: the IV, the ♭VII a whole step down, the ♭III three frets up and the V of its key. Each is the same shape moved along the neck.

Make a rock beat in C♯

Opens the free editor with a rock beat in C# major on C# F# Ab F#, a driven electric guitar playing the chords. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a rock beat in C♯All power chords

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