Banjo C♯ chord (Double C)C♯ major on the 5-string banjo: 1 1 1 3, and 3 more shapes
Frets, string 4 to string 1: 1 1 1 3 (first position)
- String 4 (C): 1st fret, index finger (barre), C♯
- String 3 (G): 1st fret, index finger (barre), G♯
- String 2 (C): 1st fret, index finger (barre), C♯
- String 1 (D): 3rd fret, ring finger, E♯
- String 5, the short g: open, G, not in the chord
Sounds: C♯ G♯ C♯ E♯ · C♯ is C♯, E♯, G♯ (1 · 3 · 5)
Found in: F♯ major (V), D♭ major (I), A♭ major (IV), E♭ mixolydian (♭VII), D♭ mixolydian (I), A♭ mixolydian (IV)
The 5th string: the short g rubs against the G♯ in this shape, a semitone away: some players let it ring, some skip it.
With a capo: on the 1st fret it’s 0 0 0 2 (frets counted from the capo), an open C shape. Spike the 5th string at the 6th fret to keep it in tune with the capo.
Double C tuning: gCGCD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.
The link can’t set the tuning: the app starts in open G. Choose Double C once in its Settings and it remembers.
More C♯ shapes
- 5 6 5 6
5fr - 8 10 8 11
8fr - 13 13 13 15
13fr
Other C♯ chords in Double C
Other major chords
C♯ in other tunings
All Double C banjo chords · Printable chart (PDF) · How to tune · The app