The C Sharp Major Scale on Piano, Bass and Treble Clef

In this lesson, we learn how to play the C sharp major scale. This scale consists of the pitches C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, and B♯. Its key signature as 7 sharps. The relative minor of C sharp major is A sharp minor.

C sharp is the enharmonic equivalent of Db. The D flat major scale makes use of the same keys on the piano and sounds the same as the C# major scale. The difference is the names of the notes. The notes of the D flat major scale are Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db.

To learn more about this scale and others, check out my course, Learn Scales & Music Theory & Give Yourself An Upper Hand.

C sharp Major Scale Intervals:

Tonic – The 1st note of the C-sharp major scale is C#.
Major 2nd – The 2nd note of the scale is D#.
Major 3rd – The 3rd note of the scale is E#.
Perfect 4th – The 4th note of the scale is F#.
Perfect 5th – The 5th note of the scale is G#.
Major 6th – The 6th note of the scale is A#.
Major 7th – The 7th note is B#.
Perfect 8th – The 8th note is C#.

C Sharp Major Scale Diagrams

Here’s a diagram of the C# major scale on the treble clef.

Here’s a diagram of the C# major scale on the bass clef.

Video:

Here’s the C# major scale on piano.

Scale Degrees

C# is the tonic of the C-sharp major scale.
D# is the supertonic of the C-sharp major scale.
E# is the mediant of the scale.
F# is the subdominant of the scale.
G# is the dominant of the scale.
A# is the submediant of the scale.
B# is the leading tone of the scale.
C# is the octave of the scale.

Major scales are formed by combining whole step and half step intervals. They are based on the formula W-W-H-W-W-W-H. “W” stands for whole step, and “H” stands for half step. To count up a whole step (whole tone), count up by two physical piano keys, either white or black. To count up a half step (semitone), count up from the last note up by one physical piano key, either white or black.

Using this formula, let’s form a C sharp major scale. Our starting note is C#. From C#, move up a whole step to D#. From D#, go up one whole step to E#. Next, we move up a half step from E# to F#. Next, we go up one whole step from F# to G#. From G#, we move up a whole step to A#. Next, we move up one whole step from A# to B#. Finally, we move up a half step from B# to C#.

C Sharp/D Flat Major Scale Piano Fingering:

Notes: Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db
Notes: C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#, C#
Fingerings (Left Hand): 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3
Fingerings (Right Hand): 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2

The finger numbers are as follows: Thumb: 1, index finger: 2, middle finger: 3, ring finger: 4, pinky (little) finger: 5.

Now that we know the notes of the C sharp major scale, let’s learn the triad chords in this scale/key and their notes.

Chord I – C sharp major (notes: C# – E# – G#)
Chord ii – D sharp minor (notes: D# – F# – A#)
Chord iii – E sharp minor (notes: E# – G# – B#)
Chord IV – F sharp major (notes: F# – A# – C#)
Chord V – G sharp major (notes: G# – B# – D#)
Chord vi – A sharp minor (notes: A# – C# – E#)
Chord vii – B sharp diminished (notes: B# – D# – F#)

Learn more about the chords in the key of C sharp major here.

Modes of the C sharp major scale:

Ionian/Major Scale: C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯, C♯
Dorian: D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯, C♯, D♯
Phrygian: E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯, C♯, D♯, E♯
Lydian: F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯
Mixolydian: G♯, A♯, B♯, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯
Aeolian/Natural minor scale: A♯, B♯, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯
Locrian: B♯, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯

Learn how to form major and minor scales in all keys.

Learn how to form all types of scales.

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