Cm chord on guitar
C Minor. Notes: C, Eb and G.
How to play Cm
- Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 1 (Eb).
- Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C).
- Put your ring finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 3 (C).
- Put your pinky finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 3 (G).
- Let the open G string ring.
- Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the A string down.
All 4 ways to play Cm
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyBarre at fret 5
HardBarre at fret 3
HardBarre at fret 8
HardNotes and theory
The minor triad swaps the major third for a minor third, which gives it a darker, sadder color. The formula is 1 b3 5, and you will also see it written as Cmin and C-.
Keys that use Cm
More C chords
All C guitar chordsCm with another bass note
minor chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the Cm chord?
Cm (C minor) is made of three notes: C (root), Eb (minor third) and G (perfect fifth).
How do you play Cm on guitar?
The easiest Cm is the "open position" shape. Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 1 (Eb). Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C). Put your ring finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 3 (C).
Is Cm hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 4 fretted notes plus open strings.
What is the difference between Cm and C?
Only the third changes. C major uses a major third and sounds bright; C minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.
What key is Cm in?
Cm belongs to 6 keys: E flat major (as the vi chord), A flat major (as the iii chord), B flat major (as the ii chord), C minor (as the i chord), F minor (as the v chord) and G minor (as the iv chord).
What does a minor chord sound like?
The minor triad swaps the major third for a minor third, which gives it a darker, sadder color.