C Minor Scale on Guitar
The C Minor scale contains C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭ — 7 notes. Every position is marked across the whole fretboard below, labelled with note names and with interval numbers, and the tuning of each string can be changed.
| Degree | 1 | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | C | D | E♭ | F | G | A♭ | B♭ |
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Minor 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Minor 6th | Minor 7th |
Note names
Interval numbers
Circle of fifths
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C Minor scale?
C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭. That is 7 notes.
What is the interval pattern of the C Minor scale?
2-1-2-2-1-2-2, counting in semitones from the root: C to D is 2 semitones, D to E♭ is 1, E♭ to F is 2, F to G is 2, G to A♭ is 1, A♭ to B♭ is 2 and B♭ back up to C is 2.
Which chords go with the C Minor scale?
The triads built from its own notes: Cm, D°, E♭, Fm, Gm, A♭ and B♭. Those are the chords that will sound consonant over it.
What is the relative major of C Minor?
E♭ major. The two share all 7 notes — C Minor starts from the sixth degree of E♭ major, which is why they have the same key signature.
Which smaller scales fit inside the C Minor scale?
E♭ Major Pentatonic, C Minor Pentatonic, B♭ Dominant Pentatonic (Mixolydian Pentatonic) and F Minor Sixth Pentatonic. Every note of those is also in the C Minor scale, so they can be played over it.
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