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Cm Chord on Guitar

Cm is the C minor chord — 3 notes (C, E♭, G) built from the formula 1 ♭3 5. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: C · E♭ · GFormula: 1 · ♭3 · 5Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

Cm: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • Cm – open position×R♭35R5open position
  • Cm – fret 3×R5R♭35fret 3
  • Cm – fret 55R♭35R5×fret 5
  • Cm – fret 88R5R♭35Rfret 8
  • Cm – fret 1010××R5R♭3fret 10
  • Cm – fret 1212×R♭35R×fret 12

Cm: Triad voicings (3 strings)

  • Cm – bass: R5R♭35×××bass: R
  • Cm – bass: R12×R♭35××bass: R
  • Cm – bass: R8××R♭35×bass: R
  • Cm – bass: R×××R♭35bass: R
  • Cm – bass: ♭310♭35R×××bass: ♭3
  • Cm – bass: ♭35×♭35R××bass: ♭3
  • Cm – bass: ♭312××♭35R×bass: ♭3
  • Cm – bass: ♭38×××♭35Rbass: ♭3
  • Cm – bass: 55R♭3×××bass: 5
  • Cm – bass: 58×5R♭3××bass: 5
  • Cm – bass: 5××5R♭3×bass: 5
  • Cm – bass: 511×××5R♭3bass: 5

Keys that contain Cm

Scales to play over Cm

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain C, E♭, G.

Other C chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Minor chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the Cm chord?
Cm (C minor) contains C, E♭, G — formula 1 ♭3 5.
How do you play Cm on guitar?
A common shape is x31013 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with Cm?
Good choices to solo over Cm: C Aeolian (Minor), C Dorian, C Minor pentatonic.
What key is Cm in?
Cm is diatonic in E♭ major (vi), A♭ major (iii), B♭ major (ii), C minor (i), F minor (v), G minor (iv).