Chords in C minor
Cm · Ddim · E♭ · Fm · Gm · A♭ · B♭
i ii° III iv v VI VII · key signature B♭ E♭ A♭ · scale C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭
Cm — minor chord on degree 1 · inversions and fingering
Chord table for C minor
| Degree | Triad | Notes | 7th chord | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i | Cm | C – E♭ – G | Cm7 | tonic |
| ii° | Ddim | D – F – A♭ | Dm7♭5 | predominant |
| III | E♭ | E♭ – G – B♭ | E♭maj7 | tonic (relative major) |
| iv | Fm | F – A♭ – C | Fm7 | predominant |
| v | Gm | G – B♭ – D | Gm7 | dominant |
| VI | A♭ | A♭ – C – E♭ | A♭maj7 | predominant |
| VII | B♭ | B♭ – D – F | B♭7 | subtonic |
In practice, minor-key music usually borrows from harmonic minor: raising the 7th note turns Gm into G (V), which pulls far more strongly back to Cm, and gives a diminished Bdim (vii°).
Common progressions in C minor
- Cm – B♭ – A♭ – G i–♭VII–♭VI–V · Andalusian
- Cm – A♭ – E♭ – B♭ i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII · Epic minor
- Ddim – G – Cm – Cm ii°–V–i–i · Minor ii–V–i
Related keys
Relative major: E♭ major (same notes). Parallel major: C major (same tonic). See the C minor scale on piano or its place on the circle of fifths.
Other minor keys
Chords in C minor: questions
What chords are in the key of C minor?
The seven diatonic chords of C minor are Cm (i), Ddim (ii°), E♭ (III), Fm (iv), Gm (v), A♭ (VI), B♭ (VII).
What are the 7th chords in C minor?
Cm7 (i7), Dm7♭5 (iiø7), E♭maj7 (IIImaj7), Fm7 (iv7), Gm7 (v7), A♭maj7 (VImaj7), B♭7 (VII7).
What are the three main chords in C minor?
The primary chords are Cm (i), Fm (iv) and G (V, from harmonic minor) or Gm (v). Together they contain every note of the scale.
How many sharps or flats does C minor have?
3 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭.
What is the relative major of C minor?
E♭ major, which uses the same notes and key signature.