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How to Play the C Minor Chord on Guitar

g major chord on guitar

C Minor Chord Overview

Notes

C-D#-G

Interval Build & Degrees

I-♭III-V (Root, Minor Third, and Perfect Fifth)

Tab

X-3-5-5-4-3 (X-G-C-D#-G-C)

C Minor Step by Step Instructions

Here is how you play C Minor:

1. Barre your index finger across the third fret starting at the fifth string
2. Place your ring finger on the fifth fret of the fourth string (G)
3. Place your pinky finger on the fifth fret of the third string (C)
4. Place your middle finger on the fourth fret of the second string (D#)
5. Strum from the fifth string down

Common C Minor Voicings on Guitar

C Minor Barre Chord (6th string root)

8-10-10-8-8-8

C Minor Using 4th String as the Root

X-X-10-8-8-X

C Minor First Inversion

X-X-X-8-8-8 (D# as the root)

C Minor Second Inversion

X-X-X-12-13-11 (G as the root)

Famous Songs That Use the C Minor Chord

  • Someone Like You by Adele
  • Apologize by OneRepublic
  • Clocks by Coldplay
  • Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers
  • Back to Black by Amy Winehouse

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