Piano chords · Minor chord
Cm piano chord (C minor)
Cm is a minor chord with 3 notes. It sounds darker, more wistful. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
C – E♭ – G · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Cm
Cm is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5):
- C, the root
- E♭, the minor third
- G, the fifth
E♭ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on C, 3 on E♭, 5 on G.
- Left hand: 5 on C, 3 on E♭, 1 on G.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | C – E♭ – G |
| 1st inversion | E♭ – G – C |
| 2nd inversion | G – C – E♭ |
Where Cm belongs
Cm is the ii chord in B♭ major, the iii chord in A♭ major and the vi chord in E♭ major, and the home chord of C minor. Its relative major is E♭, which shares two of its notes.
C is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (E♭ becomes E), which turns it from dark to bright.
Hear it in a progression
Cm – A♭ – E♭ – B♭: i – VI – III – VII, a classic minor-key progression.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Cm chord?
Cm (C minor) is made of C, E♭ and G: the root, minor third and fifth.
How do you play Cm on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on C, 3 on E♭, 5 on G, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on C, 3 on E♭, 1 on G.
What's the difference between Cm and C?
C is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (E♭ becomes E), which turns it from dark to bright.