C Sharp Music Note: The Ultimate Guide to the Note and Key
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As one of the twelve notes in Western music, the C sharp note is located between C and D. Learn how to identify C sharp in various clefs, explore the scales and modes that begin with C sharp, and discover famous songs where C sharp plays a prominent role in the melody.
C Sharp Note On The Staff
Here is probably the most common C sharp you’ll see. It sits on the first ledger line below the treble clef and is the C sharp above middle C.
Below are different C sharps that you will see on the treble and bass clef. Remember that we can play C sharp notes an octave higher or lower from the C sharp above middle C. This means that technically there are infinite C sharp notes to choose from!
Below are notes that are enharmonically equivalent to C sharp. B double sharp means two half-steps above B, which is C sharp. D flat means one half step below D, which is also C sharp.
C Sharp Note On The Piano And Keyboard
C sharp sits between the C and D white keys on the keyboard. The black keys move in groups of two then three and the C sharp note is the first black key in the groups of 2.
You might also remember it as the first black key above C natural.
C Sharp Note Accidentals
We can add accidental signs to a C sharp note and these are shown below. Remember that all the other notes in the diagram are not enharmonically equivalent to C sharp.
C Sharp Music Notes In Different Clefs
Here are typical C sharp notes that you will see in different clefs. Some are lower or higher and for more on how to name the different C sharp notes, check out our post on octaves.
Treble Clef – C#
The C sharp above middle C (C#4) sits on the first ledger line below the treble clef.
Bass Clef – C#
The C sharp below middle C (C#3) sits on the second space of the bass clef.
Alto Clef – C#
The C sharp above middle C (C#4) sits on the middle line of the alto clef.
Tenor Clef – C#
The C sharp above middle C (C#4) sits on the fourth line of the tenor clef.
Mezzo-Soprano – C#
The C sharp above middle C (C#4) sits on the second line of the mezzo-soprano clef.
Soprano Clef – C#
The C sharp above middle C (C#4) sits on the first line of the soprano clef.
Baritone Clef – C#
The C sharp below middle C (C#3) sits on the first space of the baritone clef.
Popular Scales Starting On C#
C Sharp Major
The major scale formula is W-W-H-W-W-W-H, where W= whole step and H = half step. Below is the C sharp major scale.
C Sharp Natural Minor
The natural minor formula is W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Below is the C sharp natural minor scale.
C Sharp Harmonic Minor
The harmonic minor formula is W – H – W – W – H – W1/2 – H. Note that this scale has a three semitone step or a whole-step-and-a-half.
C Sharp Melodic Minor
When ascending the melodic minor scale follows this pattern: W-H-W-W-W-W-H.
When descending it follows the natural minor pattern.
Modes Starting On C#
Below are the modes that start on C sharp.
