Skip to content

Guitar chords · Minor

Cm chord on guitar

Cm (C minor) has three notes: C, E♭ and G, the , ♭3 and 5.

Shapes

How to play Cm

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Cm has no common . Play it as the A shape at 3 or the E shape at fret 8. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 3

    3fr×R5R♭35CGCE♭G

  • E shape · fret 8

    8frR5R♭35RCGCE♭GC
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Cm minor

A minor chord lowers the 3rd of the major chord by a . That one note gives it its darker, sadder colour.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd makes Cm a minor chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. CRroot
  2. E♭♭3essential
  3. G5optional
EADGBE0135791215CCCCCCCCGE♭GE♭GE♭GE♭GE♭GE♭GGE♭G
  • C, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Cm

Cm belongs to six keys: A♭ major (iii), E♭ major (vi), B♭ major (ii), F minor (v), C minor (i) and G minor (iv).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Progressions

Progressions with Cm

Common progressions that use Cm, each in a key that spells it Cm. The outlined chord is Cm.

  • The pop axis in E♭ major

    I – V – vi – IV

    1. E♭
    2. B♭
    3. Cm
    4. A♭

    Four chords that carry a huge share of modern pop. All four sit next to each other on the circle.

    Heard in Let It Be, No Woman No Cry, With or Without You

  • '50s doo-wop in E♭ major

    I – vi – IV – V

    1. E♭
    2. Cm
    3. A♭
    4. B♭

    The vi chord softens the move from I to IV before the V pulls back home.

    Heard in Stand by Me, Every Breath You Take

  • Minor pop in C minor

    i – VI – III – VII

    1. Cm
    2. A♭
    3. E♭
    4. B♭

    The pop axis rotated to start on the relative minor — same four chords, darker centre.

    Heard in Zombie, Numb, Despacito

  • Andalusian cadence in C minor

    i – VII – VI – V

    1. Cm
    2. B♭
    3. A♭
    4. G

    A stepwise walk down to a major V borrowed from harmonic minor. Flamenco's signature move.

    Heard in Hit the Road Jack, Runaway, Stray Cat Strut

Slash chords

Cm over another bass note

A keeps Cm on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Cm/E♭

    Cm with its ♭3rd, E♭, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • Cm/G

    Cm with its 5th, G, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • Cm/B♭

    Cm over B♭, a passing bass a below the , as in Cm, Cm/B♭, Cm/A, A♭.

  • Cm/A

    Cm over A, a passing bass a major 6th above the , as in Cm, Cm/B♭, Cm/A, A♭.

Same root

Other chords on C

Change one or two notes and the same gives a different colour. Compare them by ear.

Questions

Cm, in short

What notes are in the Cm chord?
Cm (C minor) has three notes: C, E♭ and G, the , ♭3 and 5.
How do you play Cm on guitar?
Cm has no common . Play it as the A shape at 3 or the E shape at fret 8.
What key is Cm in?
Cm belongs to six keys: A♭ major (iii), E♭ major (vi), B♭ major (ii), F minor (v), C minor (i) and G minor (iv).
All guitar chords