C minor chord
C minor chord for guitar with diagrams, fingerings and notes.
All chords More C chordsAlternative shapes
Cm
Cm
Cm (capo 3)
Learn from video
Description and theory
Cm is usually played in closed position whereas no options in open position include natural fingerings.
Chord progressions
Eb - Cm - Ab - Eb - Bb
Progressions with diagrams (PDF)
Chords that sound good together with C minor
The primary chords to combine with Cm in chord progressions are: Eb, Fm, Gm, Ab, Bb.
Follow-up chords
Chords that are likely to follow C minor in progressions:
› Eb
› Fm
› Ab
› G7
Finger position (Cm chord)
Index (1st) finger on 4th string, 1st fret.
Ring (2nd) finger on 5th string, 3rd fret.
See The Chord Reference ebook (over 800 chord charts), for a PDF.
Alternatives with capo
Am shape with a capo on 3rd fret (see picture).
Em shape with a capo on 8th fret.
Chord names
The Cm is an abbreviation for C minor (a less common abbreviation is Cmin).
Theory of Cm chord
The notes that the Cm chord consists of are C, Eb, G.To get Cm7 add Bb.
To get Cm6 add A.
Inversions
1st inversion: Cm/Eb (means that Eb is the bass note).
2nd inversion: Cm/G (means that G is the bass note).
Diagrams of these inversions
Assorted slash chords
Versions with alternate bass notes in short notation:
Cm/D: XX0543
Cm/E: 03101X
Cm/Ab: 4310XX
Cm/A: X0554X
Cm/B: X21013
Cm/Bb: X1101X
Alternative chord names
Cm/D is theoretically identical with Cmadd9/D.
Cm/A is theoretically identical with the 3rd inversion of Cm6.
Cm/B is theoretically identical with the 3rd inversion of Cm(maj7).
Omissions (dyads)
Cm (no3) is a C minor with no third (Eb).
Cm (no5) is a C minor with no fifth (G).
Written in tab format
- - -
- - -
- 0 -
- 1 -
- 3 -
- - -