Cm chord (C minor) on bass
Cm (C minor) has three notes: C, E flat and G. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. In major keys, Cm is the ii chord in Bb major, the iii in Ab major and the vi in Eb major.
How to play Cm on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 1 on G.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Cm |
|---|---|
| Also written | Cmin, C- |
| Notes | C Eb G |
| Formula | 1 b3 5 |
| Intervals | root, minor third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Minor chord |
Cm across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 3 G (5), fret 8 C (1), fret 11 Eb (flat 3), fret 15 G (5), fret 20 C (1), fret 23 Eb (flat 3).
- A string: fret 3 C (1), fret 6 Eb (flat 3), fret 10 G (5), fret 15 C (1), fret 18 Eb (flat 3), fret 22 G (5).
- D string: fret 1 Eb (flat 3), fret 5 G (5), fret 10 C (1), fret 13 Eb (flat 3), fret 17 G (5), fret 22 C (1).
- G string: fret 0 G (5), fret 5 C (1), fret 8 Eb (flat 3), fret 12 G (5), fret 17 C (1), fret 20 Eb (flat 3), fret 24 G (5).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Questions
What notes are in the Cm chord?
Cm (C minor) has three notes: C, E flat and G. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. C is the root, Eb is the minor third and G is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Cm on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 5th: 1 5, root on the E string, fret 8. Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
What key is Cm in?
In major keys, Cm is the ii chord in Bb major, the iii in Ab major and the vi in Eb major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Cm and C?
Cm has a minor 3rd, Eb. C major raises it a half step to E. The root and 5th stay the same.