Just like the C Major scale, the C Minor scales consists of seven notes.
These notes are as follows
If you are unfamiliar with the Major scale, I suggest you get comfortable with that first before moving onto the Minor Scale.
The C Minor scale is a diatonic scale, which simply means as you work through the scale you do so in one of two steps.
The two steps are
- Whole Step (W)
- Half Step (H)
The C Minor step intervals are
Or to simplify
The 5 Patterns of the C Minor Scale - Left Handed
A pattern is a set of notes that are played one after the other. There are five different patterns that can be played in C Minor, each of which are inter-connected across the fretboard.
The notes of the scale are displayed on the fretboard by the light grey circles, with the darker blue circles highlighting the root notes. The root notes are always C tones. The numbers on each circle indicate which finger should play the note. The patterns are as follows
Left Handed Pattern 1
Left Handed Pattern 2
Left Handed Pattern 3
Left Handed Pattern 4
Left Handed Pattern 5
Related Chords for the C Minor Scale
Knowing the C Minor Scale is great, but what is ever better is to know which chords work well with this scale. This can be determined using the degree of the scale.
Knowing which chords work well with a particular scale allows you to enhance your improvisation and ultimately build songs, we'll even highlight some popular songs which are in the key of C Minor later. The C Minor Scale has the following related chords.
| Degree | Chord Type | Scale Note | Tonic Chord | Tonic 7th Chord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | m | C | Cm | Cm7 |
| 2 | dim | D | Ddim | Dm7b5 |
| 3 | maj | Eb | Eb | Ebmaj7 |
| 4 | m | F | Fm | Fm7 |
| 5 | m | G | Gm | Gm7 |
| 6 | maj | Ab | Ab | Abmaj7 |
| 7 | maj | Bb | Bb | Bb7 |
Songs in the Key of C Minor
Some of the most popular and recognisable songs are in the key of C Minor. Let's check some out.
- Toxicity by System Of A Down
- It's My Life by Bon Jovi
- Enjoy The Silence by Depeche Mode
- Don't Speak by No Doubt
- How You Remind Me by Nickelback