There it is again, the chord of the week. This time we zoom in on the C#m. This chord is also known as a Dbm. As we have said before: it’s all a matter of perspective. One thing is certain, both chords sound the same when you strike them on your guitar.
Let’s start with a bit of theory. “Oh no, here we go again”, you sigh. Don’t panic! After all, it’s all about the basics. It never hurts to know something about music theory. The scale of the C#m consists of the tones: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, and B. These tones, therefore, occur as chords in different forms in compositions written in C#m.
Vanessa – Grimes
And now back to the real jam. “Vanessa” by British-Colombian singer Claire Elise Boucher, also known as Grimes, is a nice addition to your setlist. Not only because the hipster level is so high, but also because you can put theory into practice.
If you take a look at the C#m scale for one second, you will see that it clearly reflects the structure of this song. We see the basic chords B and A, and the slightly more difficult C#. If you master those chords, you are on the path to success with this song. The only remaining challenges are the C#m and the F#m, but they are easy to grab. This track lends itself for both piano and guitar.
Oops! I did it again – Britney Spears
Remember the time when Britney Spears was a teenager? “Oops! I did it again” I sound like a grandpa, but never mind. The track is Britney’s first single from her eponymous second album. You know what they say: “the second album is always the hardest.” Yet Britney kept her cool.
The song is a nice challenge for the advanced guitarist. Its chord progression is quite fast, so it’s a good idea to really master the more difficult grips first. Maybe your sister will be in for a duet at Christmas dinner and will relieve you of singing?
Until Morning – James Vickery
A nice track to include in your setlist for the upcoming party month is “Until Morning.” If it feels like a good day to be singing and you want to impress your grandmother, your fling or your guinea pig, then this is the song to do it with.
Let’s get back to the theory. Here’s an example of the variations on the tones from the scale of C#m. The leading chords in the song are Bm, C#m, F#m, and G#m. Note that when you remove the minor, you’re left with the tones from the original scale.
Livin’ La Vida Loca – Ricky Martin
Sometimes you just have to forget all your worries and sing a little “Livin’ La Vida Loca” out loud. This nineties hit by hero Ricky Martin is still a guilty-pleasure classic. If you’re already considering throwing Britney Spears in your jam, then you’ll probably be unable to resist this track.
Luckily the chord progression isn’t a major threshold. Unlike “Oops! I did it Again,” Martin’s song is very clear. You’ve got all the time in the world to master the grips. Besides that, the chords just follow the scale of the C#m, which also benefits practicing your theory. Happy jamming!