Skip to content

Guitar scales · Natural minor (Aeolian)

C minor scale on guitar

The C minor scale has seven notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭. As degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6 and ♭7.

Notes and pattern

The C minor scale

The of a major key: same notes, starting on the 6th degree. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2 and 2 : whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole.

C minor has the same notes as E♭ major, starting from C. See that scale.

  1. C1
  2. D2
  3. E♭♭3
  4. F4
  5. G5
  6. A♭♭6
  7. B♭♭7
EADGBE0135791215CCCCCCCCFGA♭B♭DE♭FGB♭DE♭FGA♭B♭DE♭FGA♭B♭DE♭FGA♭B♭DE♭FGA♭B♭DE♭FGA♭B♭DFGA♭B♭DE♭FG
  • C, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

C minor in five positions

The splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.

C minor · the whole neck

Five positions, each overlapping the next, repeating every 12 frets.

DDCCAGEEEADGBE0135791215CCCCCCCCFGA♭B♭DE♭FGB♭DE♭FGA♭B♭DE♭FGA♭B♭DE♭FGA♭B♭DE♭FGA♭B♭DE♭FGA♭B♭DFGA♭B♭DE♭FG
  • Root (C)
  • Scale tone

Chords

Chords from the C minor scale

Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get its chords.

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Hear the chords and progressions in C minor

Same root

Other scales on C

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

C minor, in short

What notes are in the C minor scale?
The C minor scale has seven notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭. As degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6 and ♭7.
What chords go with the C minor scale?
The chords built on C minor are Cm, D°, E♭, Fm, Gm, A♭ and B♭.
What is the relative major of C minor?
C minor has the same notes as E♭ major, starting from C.
All guitar scales