C Minor Scale

This guitar scale reference contains the notes, formula, structure, positions, chords, and modes for the C Minor scale. For an in-depth lesson on the major scale, see Minor Scale Positions & Theory.

Notes of C Minor Scale

The C Minor scale contains three flats, E♭, A♭, and B. The rest of the notes are naturals.

C – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭

Scale Formula

IntervalsRootMajor 2ndMinor 3rdPerfect 4thPerfect 5thMinor 6thMinor 7th
NotesCDE♭FGA♭B♭

Scale Structure

C Minor is a minor scale and follows the minor scale structure of whole and half step intervals:

W H W W H W W

C minor scale whole step half step fretboard

Scale Positions

The diagrams below outline the 5 CAGED positions for the C Minor scale.

Position 1

C minor scale position 1 diagram

Position 2

C minor scale position 2 diagram

Position 3

C minor scale position 3 diagram

Position 4

C minor scale position 4 diagram

Position 5

C minor scale position 5 diagram

Chords in the Key of C Minor

When harmonizing the C Minor scale, you get the following chords:

Degreeiii°IIIivivVIVII
ChordCmDdimE♭FmGmA♭B♭
Chord NotesC – E♭ – GD – F – A♭E♭ – G – B♭F – A♭ – CG – B♭ – DA♭ – C – E♭B♭ – D – F

Relative and Parallel Scales

Relative Major of C Minor: E♭ Major | E♭ – Fm – Gm – A♭ – B♭ – Cm – Dm♭5

Parallel Major of C Minor: C Major | C – Dm – Em – F – G – Am – Bm♭5

Modes

The following are the modes of C Minor:

  • C Aeolian (Minor)
  • D Locrian (Minor)
  • E♭Ionian (Major)
  • F Dorian (Minor)
  • G Phrygian (Minor)
  • A♭ Lydian (Major)
  • B♭ Mixolydian (Major)