Cm Guitar Chord
C minor is a three-note chord built from C, D#, G — the root, minor third, and perfect fifth. Its darker, more introspective sound compared to C major makes it a staple of rock, pop, folk, and blues.
4 ways to play Cm
Notes
Intervals
C (Root), D# (Minor 3rd), G (Perfect 5th)
Found in keys
Notes in the C Minor Chord
The C Minor chord is built from 3 notes: C, D#, G. It is a minor chord — built from a root, minor third (3 semitones above the root), and perfect fifth (7 semitones). On guitar, these notes are voiced across multiple strings simultaneously to create the full chord sound. Depending on the voicing, some notes may be doubled in different octaves to fill out the sound.
Keys That Contain C Minor
C Minor appears as a diatonic chord in these major keys:
Common Chord Progressions with Cm
C Minor appears in many common progressions. Here are the most-used patterns when Cm is the tonic minor chord:
Use our chords in a key tool to find all the chords that naturally pair with Cm in any key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the C Minor chord?
The C Minor chord is made up of C, D#, G. These 3 notes form a triad (three-note chord structure).
What key is the C Minor chord in?
C Minor naturally appears in the keys of Ab Major, Eb Major, Bb Major. It can also appear in other contexts as a borrowed chord or secondary chord.
How do I play the Cm chord on guitar?
Place your fingers on the guitar fretboard according to the diagram above. The numbered dots show finger placement (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky), "O" means play the string open, and "X" means mute that string.
What chords go with Cm?
Chords that pair well with Cm are the other diatonic chords from the keys where Cm naturally appears: Ab Major, Eb Major, Bb Major. Use our chords-in-key tool to see the full chord set for any of these keys.
Other C Chords
Write chord sheets with Cm in Chordly — click any chord to add it to your lyrics, then share or export.
Drag and drop chords directly onto your lyrics, build guitar tabs, and practice hands-free with autoscroll Play Mode. All in your browser — no download needed.