What notes are in the C#m/b3 chord?

C#m/b3 is made of E, G# and C# — the b3, 5 and 1 degrees of a minor first inversion chord built on C#.

What keys use the C#m/b3 chord?

Every note of C#m/b3 belongs to 8 keys: A Major (iii), E Major (vi), B Major (ii), Cb Major (ii), F# Minor (v), C# Minor (i), G# Minor (iv), Ab Minor (iv). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.

How do you play C#m/b3 on guitar and piano?

This page shows C#m/b3 on piano — 1 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.

Is C#m/b3 the same as Dbm/b3?

Yes. C#m/b3 and Dbm/b3 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; C#m/b3 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Chord · C# Minor (1st Inversion)

C♯m/♭3 Chord

C♯m/♭3 is E, G# and C# — minor triad with the third in the bass.

Hear it

C♯m/♭3 on every instrument

The same 3 notes, 1 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.

Piano1 voicing

What C♯m/♭3 is made of

C# Minor (1st Inversion) (C# minor (1st inversion)) is built from the notes E, G#, C#, with the interval pattern b3, 5, 1. A common minor (1st inversion) chord across many styles.

Stack b3, 5 and 1 on a root of C♯ and you get E, G# and C#. That interval recipe is what makes the chord a minor first inversion chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why Cm/♭3 sounds like a transposed C♯m/♭3.

Minor (1st Inversion): Minor triad with the third in the bass.

Spelling: the notes above are written the way a score would write them, not simplified to the nearest piano key. That is why this chord is spelled with G♯ rather than its enharmonic equivalent.

Keys that contain C♯m/♭3

All 3 notes sit inside the scale of 8 keys. The roman numeral marks the degree the chord is rooted on.

Major keys

Minor keys

Other chords on C♯

Same root, different colour.

C♯mC# Minor C♯dimC# Diminished C♯m6C# Minor 6th C♯m7C# Minor 7th C♯m(maj7)C# Minor-Major 7th C♯dim7C# Diminished 7th C♯m7♭5C# Half-Diminished 7th (m7♭5)C♯m9C# Minor 9th

The same minor first inversion shape, moved

The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.

Cm/♭3C Minor (1st Inversion)Dm/♭3D Minor (1st Inversion)Em/♭3E Minor (1st Inversion)Fm/♭3F Minor (1st Inversion)Gm/♭3G Minor (1st Inversion)Bm/♭3B Minor (1st Inversion)F♯m/♭3F# Minor (1st Inversion)G♯m/♭3G# Minor (1st Inversion)

Questions people ask about C#m/b3

What notes are in the C#m/b3 chord?: C#m/b3 is made of E, G# and C# — the b3, 5 and 1 degrees of a minor first inversion chord built on C#.
What keys use the C#m/b3 chord?: Every note of C#m/b3 belongs to 8 keys: A Major (iii), E Major (vi), B Major (ii), Cb Major (ii), F# Minor (v), C# Minor (i), G# Minor (iv), Ab Minor (iv). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.
How do you play C#m/b3 on guitar and piano?: This page shows C#m/b3 on piano — 1 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.
Is C#m/b3 the same as Dbm/b3?: Yes. C#m/b3 and Dbm/b3 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; C#m/b3 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Learn the theory behind it

Why C♯m/♭3 behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.

Chord Inversions and Slash Chords — Same Notes, Different AttitudeSame notes, different bass note — what the slash in the name is actually doing.5 min read Voice Leading — Hold What You Can, Move Only What You MustInversions exist so your fingers move less between chords. This is the technique behind them.6 min read Functional Harmony: Three Roles, One EngineAn inverted chord still has a job in the key. Here is how to hear it.6 min read