Explore chords · Ukulele
C minor chord on ukulele (Cm)
Also called or written Cm or Cmin
C minor is built from C, E♭, and G. The default 3rd fret shape bars three strings, so it demands a clean index barre.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5
- Root positionC–E♭–GCm×-12-11-10
- First inversionE♭–G–CCm/E♭5-3-3-3
- Second inversionG–C–E♭Cm/G8-7-8-6
How do you play a C minor chord on ukulele?
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
IntermediateThe index barre must hold three strings at the 3rd fret while the pinky reaches the 5th fret on the G string.
10th fret · ×-12-11-10 — the easy shape, no barre
C minor is played at the 10th fret as × 12 11 10: ring 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. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 3 | C (1) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 2 | E♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 1 | G (5) |
Cmin/G inversion
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
Cmin/E♭ inversion · open position
C minor is played in open position as 0 3 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
10th fret · 12-12-11-10
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
Why it sounds like that
C minor uses the formula 1, ♭3, 5. The ♭3, E♭, gives the chord its minor quality. Raise that note a semitone to E and you get C major.
What goes wrong with C minor?
- Letting the barre miss the A string, which then rings open and spoils the chord.
- Pressing the pinky too hard, which bends the G string sharp.
When to use it
C minor is the vi chord in E♭ major, so it anchors the I–V–vi–IV progression: E♭ major–B♭ major–C minor–A♭ major. Use it for jazz, blues, and minor-key ballads.
Changing to and from C minor
- Slide the whole shape down one fret to the 2nd fret to get B minor.
- Move to D minor by shifting the barre to the 5th fret and the pinky to the 7th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 3rd fret shape keeps C in the bass and is the standard grip. The 10th fret voicing moves the same notes higher for a brighter cut, while the C minor/E♭ inversion puts E♭ in the bass for a darker feel.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C minor written?
C minor appears as Cm, Cmin, C−, or Cmi. The root is C, and no enharmonic spelling is used.
Why does C minor sound darker than C major?
C minor lowers the third from E to E♭. That ♭3 interval creates the minor quality, while C major uses a major third.
Can I play C minor without a barre?
The 10th fret voicing avoids a barre entirely, using three separate fingers on the C, E, and A strings.