Cm Guitar Chord
C Minor · C–Eb–G
Cm is the C minor chord: C–Eb–G. Its sound is dark and emotional — the melancholic counterpart to major, built on the flat 3rd.
Cm is the relative minor of Eb major, so the two share every note and swap constantly in songs. You'll also find it as the ii chord in Bb major and the vi chord in Eb major — the emotional pivot of countless pop progressions.
The most common way to play Cm is the a-shape minor at the 3rd fret (x 3 5 5 4 3, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 6 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play Cm: 6 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Cm Chord Theory
| Interval | R | ♭3 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | C | Eb | G |
Cm is built from the C minor scale.
Cm Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Cm chord?
Cm contains 3 notes: C (R), Eb (♭3), G (5). The interval formula for a minor chord is R–♭3–5.
What is the easiest way to play Cm on guitar?
Use the a-shape minor at the 3rd fret: x 3 5 5 4 3 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Cm has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
What is the difference between Cm and C?
One note: the 3rd. C major uses the major 3rd (E) while C minor flattens it to Eb. That half-step is the entire difference between the bright minor sound and the darker major sound.
What keys use the Cm chord?
Cm appears diatonically in Eb major (as vi), Bb major (as ii), and Ab major (as iii) — plus it's the home chord (i) of C minor.
Related Chords
Hear yourself play Cm
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