Ukulele · Level 3 · Beginner
Playing in a minor key in C♯ minor on Ukulele
Don’t just read about Playing in a minor key in C♯ minor. Play it.
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In a minor key the home chord is minor, and so are the chords on the fourth and fifth notes. This progression is the simplest way to hear what a minor key feels like.
C♯m
Notes: C♯ · E · G♯
F♯m
Notes: F♯ · A · C♯
G♯m
Notes: G♯ · B · D♯
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: C♯m, F♯m and G♯m. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Use light pressure; the ukulele's nylon strings need far less force than steel.
- Set the tempo to 53 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Play slightly softer than in a major key and let each chord ring for the whole bar.
- Strum down on every beat, then add an up-strum between beats with a loose wrist.
- Raise the tempo to 70 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for a calm, settled feeling when you arrive back on i.
Listen for
Aim for a calm, settled feeling when you arrive back on i. A common mistake is playing the minor v as major by habit.
Why it works
These chords come from the natural minor scale. Later lessons raise the third of v to make a stronger pull home.
C♯ minor has 4 sharps; its relative major key is E major.
Questions
What are the chords in i–iv–v–i in C♯ minor?
In C♯ minor the progression is C♯m | F♯m | G♯m | C♯m.
What is the key signature of C♯ minor?
C♯ minor has 4 sharps. Its relative major is E major.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 3 lesson (beginner). If it feels too hard, start with “Suspended chords”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
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