Cm guitar chord
The C minor chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in Cm
- Notes
- C – E♭ – G
- Formula
- 1 – b3 – 5
- Name
- C minor
CmC · E♭ · G
2 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- Most common
- E shape · 8th fret
What to play over Cm
Start with the chord's own notes — C, E♭, G — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- C minor pentatonic scale
The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.
- C Dorian mode
A minor with a brighter 6th — when the chord is a ii.
- C natural minor scale
The natural minor, when the chord is the song’s home chord (i).
- C Phrygian mode
Dark and Spanish-sounding, with the ♭2 — when the chord is a iii.
Questions
What notes are in a Cm chord?
Cm has 3 notes: C, E♭, G. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – b3 – 5.
What scale goes with Cm?
C minor pentatonic scale is the place to start. The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.