Ways to play Cm
Lowest on the neck first. Tap a shape to put it on the fretboard above and hear it. The numbers are fingers (1 is your index), × means leave that string out, and ○ means let it ring open.
What's in Cm
A minor chord lowers the 3rd by a half step: root, minor 3rd (three half steps) and perfect 5th. C minor is C, E♭ and G. Next to C major, the only note that moves is the 3rd, E down to E♭.
| Note | Formula | Interval from C |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | Root |
| E♭ | ♭3 | Minor 3rd |
| G | 5 | Perfect 5th |
Darker and more inward than major. In a major key the ii, iii and vi chords are minor; in a minor key the i and usually the iv are.
The key of C minor
Three flats, the relative minor of E♭. Cm is usually the A-shape minor barre at the 3rd fret.
The seven chords built from the C minor scale:
Songs in C minor
- Rolling in the Deep, Adele
Keys that use Cm
Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of C, E♭ and G, and the chord's Roman numeral in each.
| Key | Cm is the |
|---|---|
| C minor | i |
| G minor | iv |
| F minor | v |
| B♭ major | ii |
| E♭ major | vi |
| A♭ major | iii |
Progressions to try
i–iv–v in C minor
Minor-key blues and folk. Swap the v for a major V when you want a stronger pull home.
i–VI–III–VII in C minor
The minor-key cousin of I–V–vi–IV: the same four chords, started from the minor one.
Related chords
The relative major is E♭, which shares its key signature. The parallel major is C, same root with the 3rd raised.
Other chords on C: