Notes and intervals of C minor
- C1 · root
- E♭♭3 · minor third
- G5 · perfect fifth
It shows up in ballads, boleros, pasillos and almost all popular music; in a major key it's usually the relative chord or the second degree.
Progressions with Cm
Minor with a dominant: i – iv – V7 – i
The V7 comes from the harmonic minor scale and is typical of boleros, pasillos and ballads.
Modern minor: i – VI – III – VII
A very common progression in pop and rock, in C natural minor.
Which keys contain C minor?
Cm belongs to 6 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).
| Key | Degree |
|---|---|
| E♭ major | vi |
| A♭ major | iii |
| B♭ major | ii |
| C natural minor | i |
| F natural minor | v |
| G natural minor | iv |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C minor chord?
C minor (Cm) has 3 notes: C (root), E♭ (minor third), G (perfect fifth).
How do you play C minor on guitar?
The most common shape uses a barre at fret 3: x 3 5 5 4 3 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Barre fret 3 with your index finger, from the 5th to the 1st string. Finger 3 (ring) on fret 5 of the 4th string (D). Finger 4 (pinky) on fret 5 of the 3rd string (G). Finger 2 (middle) on fret 4 of the 2nd string (B). Do not play the 6th string: strum from the 5th string.
What's the difference between C minor and C major?
Only the third changes: C minor uses E♭, and C major uses E. That note is what makes the chord sound darker (minor) or brighter (major).
How do you write C minor as a chord symbol?
It is written Cm; you may also see Cmin or C-. Chord notation uses letters for notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.