Chord
C Minor Chord
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Highlighted notes form this chord.
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Notes
C · E♭ · G
Root: C
Intervals
1 · ♭3 · 5
How it is built
This chord starts on C and applies the intervals 1, ♭3, 5. The result contains 3 distinct pitch classes per octave.
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Guide and musical context
About C Minor Chord
C Minor Chord contains C, E♭, G. Its sound is darker and more introspective than a major triad.
Character and sound
Darker and more introspective than a major triad.
Musical context and history
The minor triad shares the major triad’s basic tonal role but replaces the major third with a minor third. That small interval change creates a strongly different color.
How and where it is used
It is common as a tonic in minor keys, as the relative-minor harmony of major keys and throughout pop, rock, folk and film music.
In Theory view you can hear the pitch collection without depending on a specific fingering. Then switch to Piano, Guitar, Ukulele or Mandolin to see how the same notes are physically distributed on each instrument.
Harmonic and musical relationships
The C minor harmony can be compared with its parallel major, which keeps the same root, and its relative major at E♭. The dominant a fifth above, G, is another important reference.
The formula on this page is 1 · ♭3 · 5 and, from C, produces the notes C · E♭ · G.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C Minor Chord?
The notes are C, E♭, G.
What is its interval formula?
The formula is 1 · ♭3 · 5.
How does it sound and what is it used for?
Darker and more introspective than a major triad. It is common as a tonic in minor keys, as the relative-minor harmony of major keys and throughout pop, rock, folk and film music.
Can I view it on a specific instrument?
Yes. Use the selector near the top to switch between Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Mandolin without changing the musical combination you are studying.