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Chord chart for Cm Guitar Chord (C minor): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

C minor guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 60 playable shapes

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C minor guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

C minor guitar chord

Cm is the C minor guitar chord. It uses the notes C, E♭, and G and the interval formula 1-♭3-5.

The C minor minor chord, composed of the root (C minor), minor third E♭, and perfect fifth G, evokes a melancholic or introspective emotion. The lowered third E♭ gives it a somber, contemplative quality, contrasting with the major chord’s brightness, and is often used to express depth and emotional complexity.

Also written as Cmin.

Root note: C
Quality: minor
Chord tones: 3
Playable shapes: 60

Chord tones

CE♭G

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape x35543

x35543

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string and 5th string in barre position.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string.
  5. 5 Strum from the 5th string down.

Shape 8aa888

8aa888

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, 3rd string, and 6th string in barre position.
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string.
  3. 3 Place the 4th finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string.
  4. 4 Strum from the 6th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

C Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

E♭ Minor Third ♭3

This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.

G Perfect Fifth 5

The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

C minor shape x35543

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string and 5th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth string
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

C minor shape 8aa888

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, 3rd string, and 6th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 4th finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C minor shape x31013

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Let the third string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

C minor shape x35043

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  5. 5 Let the third string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

C minor shape xxa888

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, and 3rd string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  4. 4 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

C minor shape x31043

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the third string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

C minor shape 865588

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string and 4th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string and 2nd string in barre position
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

C minor shape 865088

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string and 2nd string in barre position
  5. 5 Let the third string ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in Cm?

Cm uses the notes C, E♭, and G. Its interval formula is 1-♭3-5.

What is another name for Cm?

Cm is also written as Cmin.

How do you play Cm on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string and 5th string in barre position. Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string. Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string. Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string. Strum from the 5th string down.

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