How to Play C Sharp Major and C Sharp Minor on the Piano

Whether you dream of playing piano concertos in Carnegie Hall or simply want to pick out the tune to "Happy Birthday to You" for your son's first birthday party, you have to start at the beginning and learn the basics. With a little practice, you can soon master these two chords and be on your way to tickling the ivories with ease.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

C Sharp Major

1. Locate Middle C. On the keyboard, you see white keys and groups of either two or three black keys. C notes are the white keys immediately to the left of the set of two black keys. Middle C is the C note located almost in the center of the keyboard.

2. Place your thumb on C Sharp. C Sharp is the black key located just to the right of Middle C. The distance from Middle C to C Sharp is called one half step.

3. Put your middle finger on F. F is the white key just to the left of the set of three black keys. If you are having trouble finding it, count three white keys to the right of Middle C and you are on F.

4. Rest your pinkie finger on G Sharp. G Sharp is the second black key in the set of three. If you aren't sure if you've found it, count three black keys to the right of C Sharp (the key your thumb is on) to get to the right key.

5. Play the chord. Press your thumb on C Sharp, your middle finger on F and your pinkie on G Sharp down at the same time to play C Sharp Major.

C Sharp Minor

6. Return your thumb and pinkie to the same positions they were in for C Sharp Major. Your thumb should be on C sharp and your pinkie should be on G sharp.

7. Switch your middle finger's position to E. E is one half step down from F. In other words, it's the white key immediately to the left of F.

8. Press down on the keys. When you press your thumb, middle finger and pinkie down at the same time, you play C Sharp Minor. It should sound sadder and little more discordant than C Sharp Major.