C Minor Scale
The C minor scale has seven notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭. It has 3 flats (B♭, E♭ and A♭), and it is the relative minor of E♭ major.
Notes
- C1
- D2
- E♭♭3
- F4
- G5
- A♭♭6
- B♭♭7
Step pattern: W – H – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step)
| Degree | Note | Interval from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Root |
| 2 | D | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | E♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | F | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | A♭ | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | B♭ | Minor 7th |
On the piano
On the guitar
Root Scale tone
Key signature
C minor has 3 flats: B♭ E♭ A♭. See it on the circle of fifths →
Chords in the key of C minor
| Numeral | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| i | Cm | Cm7 |
| ii° | Ddim | Dm7♭5 |
| III | E♭ | E♭maj7 |
| iv | Fm | Fm7 |
| v | Gm | Gm7 |
| VI | A♭ | A♭maj7 |
| VII | B♭ | B♭7 |
Common progressions
- Classic minorCm – Fm – Gmi – iv – v
- Epic / pop minorCm – A♭ – E♭ – B♭i – VI – III – VII
- DescendingCm – B♭ – A♭ – Gmi – VII – VI – v
Related scales
Practise it
- Alternate picking on one stringTechnique · moved up 3 frets into C
- Palm-muted gallopMetal · moved up 8 frets into C
Explore it on the full fretboard · Piano scale explorer · Metronome