C Minor Chord: Guitar, Piano and Notes
The C Minor chord is built on the root note C. Its notes are C, E♭ and G.
Minor chords have a darker, more introspective quality. A root, a minor third and a perfect fifth give them a reflective, sometimes sad character that's common in ballads, folk and film scores.
C Minor on piano
Switch to the interactive diagram to hear the chord, change voicing and swap finger numbers for note names.
To play C Minor on piano, place your right-hand thumb on C, middle finger on E♭, and little finger on G. Press the keys together and listen for an even sound. Practice moving in and out of the chord slowly, then bring in a metronome.
C Minor on guitar
Switch to the interactive diagram to hear the chord, change voicing and swap finger numbers for note names.
On guitar, C Minor is commonly played with the voicing shown above. This one is a barre shape: keep the index finger flat across the fretboard and curve the others so they don't mute the strings next to them. Strum only the strings marked as active in the diagram.
Play the chord
C Minor chord notes
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | 0 | C |
| ♭3 | Minor third | 3 | E♭(Eb) |
| 5 | Perfect fifth | 7 | G |
How to use the C Minor chord
The C Minor chord is built from a root, a minor third and a perfect fifth. Start at the root C and stack the intervals to get the whole chord: C, E♭ and G. The same formula gives you the chord in any other key.
Minor chords are everywhere in rock, pop, classical and film music. They often act as the vi chord in major keys or as the i, iv and v in a natural minor key.
Famous Songs in C Minor
These well-known tracks all feature the C Minor chord - a great way to put it in musical context.
- 1Billie JeanMichael Jackson
- 2Rolling in the DeepAdele
- 3Get LuckyDaft Punk
- 4In the Air TonightPhil Collins
- 5Personal JesusDepeche Mode
Common progressions
The C Minor chord works beautifully in these progressions. Click a chord name to jump to its page.
Scales that contain Cm
These scales include Cm as one of their diatonic chords. Use them to find melodies and improvisation ideas that fit perfectly.
Related chords to C Minor
Once C Minor feels comfortable, the chords below open up new progressions. Each one shares notes, keys or a harmonic function with it, which is what makes it the natural place to go next.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C Minor chord?
Is the C Minor chord major or minor?
How do you play C Minor on piano?
How do you play C Minor on guitar?
What chords work well with C Minor?
Keep exploring
Deepen your understanding of the C Minor chord with our other music theory tools.