Chords in the Key of C Minor
The key of C minor is built on the notes C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb. Every chord below is drawn from that scale, so they all sound at home together.
The seven chords in C minor
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Cm | C Eb G | Minor |
| ii° | Ddim | D F Ab | Diminished |
| III | Eb | Eb G Bb | Major |
| iv | Fm | F Ab C | Minor |
| v | Gm | G Bb D | Minor |
| VI | Ab | Ab C Eb | Major |
| VII | Bb | Bb D F | Major |
Seventh chords in C minor
Adding the next third on top of each triad gives the seventh chords of the key — the harmonic vocabulary most jazz and soul writing starts from.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | Cm7 | C Eb G Bb |
| iiø7 | Dm7b5 | D F Ab C |
| IIImaj7 | Ebmaj7 | Eb G Bb D |
| iv7 | Fm7 | F Ab C Eb |
| v7 | Gm7 | G Bb D F |
| VImaj7 | Abmaj7 | Ab C Eb G |
| VII7 | Bb7 | Bb D F Ab |
Common chord progressions in C minor
| Numerals | Chords in C minor | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| i – VI – III – VII | Cm – Ab – Eb – Bb | A bright, anthemic minor progression. |
| i – iv – v | Cm – Fm – Gm | The natural-minor equivalent of the classic cadence. |
| i – VII – VI – VII | Cm – Bb – Ab – Bb | A modal, folk-leaning loop. |
| i – iv – VII – III | Cm – Fm – Bb – Eb | Moves toward the relative major for a lift. |
Relative major key
C minor shares all of its notes with Eb major, so switching between the two changes the mood of a piece without changing a single note. See Eb major.
Scale reference
See the full C Natural Minor scale for its fingering, key signature, degrees and step pattern.
Other scales for this key: C harmonic minor, C melodic minor, C minor pentatonic and C blues.
Other keys
Frequently asked questions
What chords are in the key of C minor?
The key of C minor contains Cm, Ddim, Eb, Fm, Gm, Ab, Bb. These are the triads built on each degree of the C minor scale.
What is the relative major of C minor?
The relative major of C minor is Eb major. Both keys use exactly the same notes but resolve to a different tonic.
How many sharps or flats does C minor have?
The C minor scale is spelled C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, which gives it 0 sharps and 3 flats.