C minor scale on guitar
The C minor scale has seven notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭ (1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7). The plain minor scale: the minor pentatonic with the 2nd and ♭6 filled in. Sad or serious, and the home of minor-key rock and metal, over changes like Am, F and G.
| Note | C | D | E♭ | F | G | A♭ | B♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
| Step to the next | whole | half | whole | whole | half | whole | whole |
5 positions to learn it in
On guitar a seven-note scale is learnt in five shapes, each built round one of the open chord shapes C, A, G, E and D. Together they cover the neck. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the C minor scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; C (Cm) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (C) | Cmhome | Cm7home |
| 2 (D) | Ddimthe edge | Dm7♭5the edge |
| ♭3 (E♭) | E♭daylight | E♭maj7daylight |
| 4 (F) | Fmsoft fall | Fm7soft fall |
| 5 (G) | Gmsoft fall | Gm7soft fall |
| ♭6 (A♭) | A♭cinematic | A♭maj7cinematic |
| ♭7 (B♭) | B♭heroic | B♭7heroic |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative major is the E♭ major scale: the same notes, started from E♭.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of C minor.
Questions
What notes are in the C minor scale?
C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7, and the steps between its notes are W H W W H W W (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the C minor scale?
The chords made only of its notes: Cm, Ddim, E♭, Fm, Gm, A♭ and B♭, and as seventh chords Cm7, Dm7♭5, E♭maj7, Fm7, Gm7, A♭maj7 and B♭7. C is home: Cm is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative major of the C minor scale?
The E♭ major scale, which has the same notes started from E♭.
The minor scale in every key
Other scales in C
C majorC minor pentatonicC major pentatonicC bluesC DorianC MixolydianC LydianC PhrygianC harmonic minorC melodic minorC Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: guitar scales. This scale on bass, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.