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Scales

C minor scale

The C minor scale notes: C – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭. The natural minor (Aeolian): the notes of the relative major starting from its 6th degree. Darker and sadder than major.

Notes and steps

C1D2E♭♭3F4G5A♭♭6B♭♭7

Steps: W – H – W – W – H – W – W · W = whole step, H = half step

C minor scale on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

C minor scale on the guitar fretboardFGA♭B♭CDE♭B♭CDE♭FGA♭DE♭FGA♭B♭CDGA♭B♭CDE♭FGCDE♭FGA♭B♭FGA♭B♭CDE♭357912

C minor scale on piano

C minor scale on the piano keyboardCDFGCDFGE♭A♭B♭E♭A♭B♭

Chords in this scale

iCmCm7ii°DdimDm7b5IIIE♭E♭maj7ivFmFm7vGmGm7VIA♭A♭maj7VIIB♭B♭7

Other scales from C

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C minor scale?

C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭. Step formula: W–H–W–W–H–W–W (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (C). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

Which chords go with it?

The chords built on its degrees: Cm, Ddim, E♭, Fm, Gm, A♭, B♭. More in the key of C minor.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash