Chords in the Key of C Minor

The key of C minor has 7 chords: Cm, D°, E♭, Fm, Gm, A♭ and B♭. Songs in C minor often use G too. Play them, see them with 7ths and numbers, and try common progressions.

C minor: 3 flats (B♭ E♭ A♭)

Scale: C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ · Relative major: E♭ major

The 7 chords in the key of C minor (natural minor). Press a chord to hear it.
Roman	Nashville	Function
i	6m	tonic
ii°	7°	predominant
III	1	tonic
iv	2m	predominant
v	3m	dominant
VI	4	tonic or predominant
VII	5	dominant
V	3	dominant (harmonic minor)

Common progressions in C minor

i–VI–III–VIICm A♭ E♭ B♭
i–iv–VCm Fm G Cm
Andalusian cadenceCm B♭ A♭ G
i–VII–VI–VIICm B♭ A♭ B♭
i–iv–VII–IIICm Fm B♭ E♭
iiø–V–iDm7♭5 G7 Cm7
i–VI–VIICm A♭ B♭ Cm

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Guitar chords in C minor

Cm i · x31013
D° ii° · xx01x1
E♭ III · xx1343
Fm iv · 133111
Gm v · 310033
A♭ VI · 43111x
B♭ VII · x13331
G V · 320003

Key signature and scale

C minor has 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭). The C minor scale is C – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭.

Its relative major is E♭ major: same signature, same chords, a different home chord. Next to it on the circle of fifths are G minor (one more sharp or one less flat) and F minor (one more flat or one less sharp); songs often move to these keys.

Progressions in C minor

Progression	In C minor
i–VI–III–VII	Cm A♭ E♭ B♭
i–iv–V	Cm Fm G Cm
Andalusian cadence	Cm B♭ A♭ G
i–VII–VI–VII	Cm B♭ A♭ B♭

Press Play in the tool above to hear them, or Transpose to move a progression to another key. Need these chords in another key? Use the transposition chart.

Chords in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of C minor?

The seven chords are Cm, D°, E♭, Fm, Gm, A♭ and B♭ (i, ii°, III, iv, v, VI, VII). Songs in C minor often use G too, the major V chord from the harmonic minor scale.

How many sharps or flats does C minor have?

C minor has 3 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭. Its scale is C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭.

What is the relative major of C minor?

E♭ major. The two keys share the same key signature and the same seven chords; they differ in which chord feels like home.

Which chords in C minor are hard on guitar, and can a capo help?

Played without a capo the main chords are Cm, Fm, A♭, B♭, G. With a capo on fret 3 you can play Am shapes instead: Am, Dm, F, G, E, and it still sounds in C minor.

What is the V chord in C minor?

In natural minor it is Gm, but minor-key songs often use G (or G7) to lead back to Cm.

Last updated: October 12, 2026