C Minor Chord (Cm) on Piano
The Cm chord (C minor) is built from 3 notes: C – Eb – G.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from C | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | root | 0 |
| Eb | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| G | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | C – Eb – G | C in the bass |
| 1st inversion | Eb – G – C | Eb in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | G – C – Eb | G in the bass |
How the minor chord is built
Every minor chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), b3 (3 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on C and applying that formula produces C, Eb, G. Learn the formula once and you can build a minor chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Cm
Every note of Cm belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on C
Minor chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Cm chord?
A Cm chord contains the notes C, Eb, G. Those are the 1, b3, 5 degrees measured from the root note C.
How do you play Cm on piano?
Place your thumb on C, then add Eb and G above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.