C Sharp Music Note: The Complete Guide To The Note and Key

As one of the twelve notes in Western music, the C sharp music note sits between C and D. Learn how to recognise C sharp in different clefs, the different scales and modes that start on C sharp and listen to famous songs that feature C sharp prominently in their melodies.

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.

Frequency of C sharp Music Note

Using the equal temperament tuning system, the A above middle C is 440 Hz. This means that the C sharp above middle C would be approximately 277 Hz.

What’s Next…?

• Learn about Chords in the Key of C sharp minor
• Learn about more music notes with our music theory basics guides.