C Minor Chord
The C minor chord contains C, E flat and G. On piano, keep C and G from a C major chord and lower E by one key to E flat. That one change gives you Cm, a minor chord with C as its root.
- Notes: C-E flat-G
- Symbol: Cm
- E flat is the third
keep practicing
Play Cm, then C. Keep C and G in place so your ear can follow E flat moving to E.
Where is E flat on the keyboard?
Find C just to the left of a group of two black keys. The black key nearest E, at the right of that pair, is E flat. Add G, the white key after F. You now have the three notes C-E flat-G.
E flat can also be called D sharp on a piano because both names use the same key. In this chord, E flat is the useful spelling: the notes C, E and G are a stack of thirds, and the middle one has been lowered. That makes the difference from C major easy to see.
The letters Cm mean C minor. The "m" changes the chord quality, not its root. Minor Chord explains the same pattern from other roots.
What happens when the chord is inverted?
| Position | Notes from low to high | Lowest note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | C-E flat-G | C |
| First inversion | E flat-G-C | E flat |
| Second inversion | G-C-E flat | G |
Use the inversion buttons above to compare the three positions. None adds a new chord tone. When the lowest sounding note of the whole arrangement is E flat, a musician can write Cm/E flat; with G in the bass, Cm/G. If a bassist plays C underneath, changing only your right-hand order does not change the overall bass note.
Inversions can make a change between two chords easier to play. For example, Cm in second inversion gives G-C-E flat. Move E flat down to D while keeping G and C, and you get G-C-D, a Gsus4 chord. Then move C down to B for G-B-D, a G major chord. Try each step slowly and notice that G stays put.
Is C minor always in the key of C minor?
No. Cm can be the home chord in C minor, but its notes also occur naturally in several major keys. In B flat major it is built on the second scale degree; in A flat major it is the third; in E flat major it is the sixth.
Play Cm-F-B flat-Cm, using the chords in B flat major. Cm begins the sequence, yet B flat is the major key's home chord. If you stop on Cm instead, the ending can suggest a different center. The surrounding chords and melody tell you more than the isolated chord name.
How does it compare with C major?
C major is C-E-G. C minor is C-E flat-G. The root and fifth remain in place. If you alternate the chords, you can focus on the moving middle note instead of guessing a mood from the whole sound.
A minor chord can support a quiet melody or a fast, energetic section. Tempo, articulation, instrumentation and the neighboring chords also shape what you hear. Compare the paired C Major Chord guide for the same three positions with E natural.
Make the comparison yourself
- Locate the thirdPlay C-E flat-G and identify E flat on the keyboard.
- Change one noteRaise E flat to E while C and G stay. Name the new chord.
- Change the bassReturn to C minor, then use the "1st" and "2nd" buttons. Name the lowest note each time.