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C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord
The C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord is C-sharp, E-sharp, G-sharp, and B. The E-sharp is the white key F, so the chord alternates black and white keys. With the 1-2-3-5 fingering, the second finger lands on that white key between two black ones, which is worth noticing slowly before playing it at tempo. The chord pulls strongly toward F-sharp.
How to play the C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the C♯ dominant 7th chord are stacked in thirds with C♯ on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | C♯ E♯ G♯ B |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | C♯7 |
The C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (E♯) becomes the bottom note, and the root (C♯) jumps up to the top.
| C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | E♯ G♯ B C♯ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 4 5 |
| Chord Symbol | C♯6/5 or C♯7/E♯ |
The C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (G♯) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (E♯) goes to the top.
| C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | G♯ B C♯ E♯ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | C♯4/3 or C♯7/G♯ |
The C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord in third inversion
In third inversion, the seventh of the chord (B) is on the bottom, and the fifth of the chord (G♯) goes to the top.
| C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord in 3rd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | B C♯ E♯ G♯ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 4 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | C♯4/2 or C♯7/B |
C-sharp Dominant 7th Chord theory and function
The dominant 7th is the chord that most wants to resolve. Its third and seventh form a tritone, and each of those notes pulls by step: the third up, the seventh down. That pull is what makes V7 lead so firmly to I.
The C♯ dominant 7th chord is the dominant (V7) in F♯ minor. On the keyboard this is the same chord as D♭ dominant 7th, and the spelling follows the key. The D♭ dominant 7th chord is the dominant (V7) in G♭ major.
The resolution is C♯7 – F♯: E♯ steps up to F♯ and B steps down to A♯. At a cadence, V7 – I is the sound of a phrase ending. When a dominant 7th chord turns up in a key where it isn’t the V7 (the chord built on the fifth scale degree), it is almost always pointing at the chord a fourth above it. Try playing C♯7 and then F♯ and listen for those two half steps.
Other chords built on C-sharp
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