C#m7 guitar chord
The C# minor 7th chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in C#m7
- Notes
- C# – E – G# – B
- Formula
- 1 – b3 – 5 – b7
- Name
- C# minor 7th
C#m7C# · E · G# · B
2 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- A shape · 4th fret
- E shape · 9th fret
What to play over C#m7
Start with the chord's own notes — C#, E, G#, B — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- C# Dorian mode
The usual choice over m7, especially a ii7 in a ii–V–I.
- C# minor pentatonic scale
The safe start — it holds all four notes of the chord.
- C# natural minor scale
The natural minor, when the chord is the home chord (i7).
Questions
What notes are in a C#m7 chord?
C#m7 has 4 notes: C#, E, G#, B. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – b3 – 5 – b7.
What scale goes with C#m7?
C# Dorian mode is the place to start. The usual choice over m7, especially a ii7 in a ii–V–I.