stringery

C minor

Natural minor, also called aeolian. Minor family

Sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

Root position1 of 5

571012

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. CRW
  2. D2H
  3. E♭♭3W
  4. F4W
  5. G5H
  6. A♭♭6W
  7. B♭♭7W

The flat 3rd makes it minor, and the flat 6th is what makes it sound sad rather than just dark.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckC minor

12345GCEA5710125♭6♭7R2♭345R2♭345♭6♭7R45♭6♭7R2♭3♭7R2♭345♭6
12345GCEA5710125♭6♭7R2♭345R2♭345♭6♭7R45♭6♭7R2♭3♭7R2♭345♭6

Position 1 is outlined, frets 0 to 3. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The C minor key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. Cmi
  2. Ddimii°
  3. E♭III
  4. Fmiv
  5. Gmv
  6. A♭VI
  7. B♭VII

Its neighbours on the circle of fifths Capo and transpose

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • E♭ major

    Same notes, but home is E♭: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • F dorian

    Same notes, but home is F: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • B♭ mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is B♭: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • A♭ lydian

    Same notes, but home is A♭: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • G phrygian

    Same notes, but home is G: dark, spanish, menacing.