Also written Cm or Cmin
C minor is built from C, E♭, and G. The open G string rings against the barred third fret, making this a quick first minor chord.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
C minor uses the formula 1, ♭3, 5, so the minor 3rd between C and E♭ gives the chord its dark quality. The perfect 5th from C to G keeps it stable. Compare it with C major, where the 3rd is raised to E.
C minor is the vi chord in E♭ major, as in the progression E♭–B♭–C minor–A♭ (I–V–vi–IV). C minor also fits C minor pentatonic lines over a C 5th chord. Use C minor for somber ballads or blues.
The default Cmin/E♭ inversion puts E♭ in the bass, which gives a darker color. For a root position, use the 10th fret voicing with C as the lowest note.
C minor is played in open position as 0 3 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3. The G string rings open.
Tip — The index barre must fret three strings cleanly at the third fret while the open G string rings through.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
C minor is played at the 3rd fret as 5 3 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 4 | C (1) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
C minor is played at the 6th fret as 8 7 8 6: ring finger on the G string at fret 8, middle finger on the C string at fret 7, pinky finger on the E string at fret 8 and index finger on the A string at fret 6.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 3 | E♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 2 | G (5) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 4 | C (1) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 1 | E♭ (♭3) |
C minor is played at the 10th fret as 12 12 11 10: ring finger on the G string at fret 12, pinky finger on the C string at fret 12, middle finger on the E string at fret 11 and index finger on the A string at fret 10.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 12 | 3 | G (5) |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 4 | C (1) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 2 | E♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 1 | G (5) |
C minor is played in open position as 5 0 3 6: middle finger on the G string at fret 5, index finger on the E string at fret 3 and ring finger on the A string at fret 6. The C string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 2 | C (1) |
| 3 (C) | open | — | C (1) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (♭3) |
C minor is written as Cm, Cmin, C−, or Cmi.
C minor has an E♭, while C major has an E natural. That one semitone changes the chord from minor to major.
Yes, the open position 5-0-3-6 uses separate fingers and includes an open C string.