C Minor Scale
The C minor scale (also called C natural minor or C Aeolian) contains C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb. Its key signature has 3 flats: Bb, Eb and Ab.
| Note | C | D | Eb | F | G | Ab | Bb | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
C minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to F. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Ab. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
C minor has 3 flats: Bb, Eb and Ab. Its relative major is Eb major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of C minor and of Eb major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | 0 |
| 2 | D | 2 |
| b3 | Eb | 3 |
| 4 | F | 5 |
| 5 | G | 7 |
| b6 | Ab | 8 |
| b7 | Bb | 10 |
Step pattern
The Natural Minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in C Natural Minor
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in C Natural Minor.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Cm | C Eb G |
| 2 | ii° | Ddim | D F Ab |
| 3 | III | Eb | Eb G Bb |
| 4 | iv | Fm | F Ab C |
| 5 | v | Gm | G Bb D |
| 6 | VI | Ab | Ab C Eb |
| 7 | VII | Bb | Bb D F |
Other modes on C
More scales on C
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C Natural Minor scale?
The C Natural Minor scale contains C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, then returns to C an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the C minor scale on piano?
Going up from C to C, the right hand plays 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 and the left hand plays 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many flats are in C minor?
C minor has 3 flats: Bb, Eb and Ab.
What is the step pattern of the Natural Minor scale?
The Natural Minor scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the C Natural Minor scale?
The diatonic chords are Cm, Ddim, Eb, Fm, Gm, Ab, Bb. Each is built only from notes of the C Natural Minor scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.