C natural minor
Three flats, B♭ E♭ A♭. Seven notes: C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭. Try the key’s seven chords in different places on the neck. Press a shape to hear it and see its notes.
Across one chord in different positions. Down the chords in one position. | ||||
| iMainCmC · E♭ · G | ||||
| ii°D°D · F · A♭ | ||||
| IIIMainE♭E♭ · G · B♭ | ||||
| ivFmF · A♭ · C | ||||
| vGmG · B♭ · D | ||||
| VIMainA♭A♭ · C · E♭ | ||||
| VIIMainB♭B♭ · D · F |
Sounds good
Three patterns to try
Walk up to Fm. Strum Cm, pick D and E♭ on the way up, land on Fm. Listen to how the bass connects the chords.
Triads on the top three strings. Three notes, two places, all Cm. Try them when a full six-string chord feels too busy.
- LowFrets 3–5
- HighFret 8
Same chords, higher. The four main chords in the open position, then again in frets 5 to 9. Listen to how the higher voicings change the sound.
Exercises in C minor
Four drills, with a click
Play along with the metronome. The neck above highlights each step.
- Four chords in one positionCm – E♭ – A♭ – B♭ without leaving frets 3 to 6.70 bpmLevel 1
- Climb with one chordCm in all four places, low to high. Hear it brighten.60 bpmLevel 1
- Walk up to FmStrum Cm, then walk the bass D – E♭ into Fm.90 bpmLevel 2
- Scale, then chordsPlay the scale in frets 5 to 9, then the four chords there.70 bpmLevel 2
Why three flats
G minor with A lowered
- C
- D
- E♭
- F
- G
- A♭
- B♭
- C
- D
- E♭
- F
- G
- A
- B♭
C minor is G minor with A lowered to A♭.
Harmonic minor
Harmonic minor change
Raising the seventh to B changes Gm to G major on the fifth degree.