C-sharp major

C♯ major

Relative key	A♯ minor
Parallel key	C♯ minor
Component pitches
C♯, D♯, E♯ (F), F♯, G♯, A♯, B♯ (C), C♯

Also see: C-sharp minor, or C major.

C♯ major (or C-sharp major) is a major scale based on C♯, consisting of the pitches C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, G♯, A♯, and B♯. Its key signature has seven sharps (see below: Scales and keys).

Its relative minor is A♯ minor, and its parallel minor is C♯ minor. Its enharmonic equivalent is D♭ major.

A harp tuned to C-sharp major has all its pedals in the bottom position. Because all the strings are then pinched and shortened, this is the least resonant key for the instrument.

Although most composers prefer to use the enharmonic equivalent D-flat major because it has just five flats as opposed to the seven sharps of C-sharp major, Johann Sebastian Bach actually chose C-sharp major for Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in both books of the Well-Tempered Clavier. In Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6, Franz Liszt actually changes key from D-flat major to C-sharp major near the beginning of the piece. Maurice Ravel selected C-sharp major as the tonic key of Ondine from his piano suite Gaspard de la nuit.

Louis Vierne used C-sharp major in the final piece of Messe solennelle.

Ascending and descending C-sharp major scale.

External links

• Overview of Compositions with 7 Accidentals

v • d • e Diatonic Scales and Keys
	Flats Sharps Major minor Major minor 0 C, a 1 F d G e 2 B♭ g D b 3 E♭ c A f♯ 4 A♭ f E c♯ 5 D♭ b♭ B g♯ 6 G♭ e♭ F♯ d♯ 7 C♭ a♭ C♯ a♯
The table indicates the number of sharps or flats in each scale. Minor scales are written in lower case.