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C Minor Chord on Guitar

3fr1342

A-shape barre

C minor, written Cm, is a minor chord: the root, the minor third and the fifth, which gives it its darker sound. Cm has no open shape, so it is usually played as an A-shape barre chord at the 3rd fret, and there is an easier four-string version for beginners.

How to play Cm, finger by finger

  1. Lay your index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at the 3rd fret.
  2. Put your middle finger on string 2 at the 4th fret.
  3. Put your ring finger on string 4 at the 5th fret.
  4. Put your pinky finger on string 3 at the 5th fret.
  5. Strum from string 5 down to string 1, and don't play string 6.

Easy Cm for beginners

3fr3421
Easy, four strings

Play only the top four strings, with no full barre. It is the usual first step before the barre shape.

More ways to play Cm

8fr1341
E-shape barre from fret 8
312
Open near the nut
3fr132
Open, fret 3 from fret 3
5fr4312
Movable, fret 5 from fret 5
6fr2134
Movable, fret 6 from fret 6
8fr4123
Movable, fret 8 from fret 8
10fr1342
Movable, fret 10 from fret 10
12fr4213
Movable, fret 12 from fret 12

Notes in C minor

NoteIntervalRole
C1root
E♭♭3minor third
G5fifth

Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5

Questions about Cm

What notes are in Cm?

C, E♭ and G. Those are the 1, ♭3, 5 of the chord, counted from C.

What is the easiest way to play Cm?

Play the four-string version on the top strings, frets 5, 5, 4, 3 from the 4th string to the 1st. Move to the full barre at the 3rd fret when your index finger is ready.

Often played with Cm

Other minor chords