This chord has 4 voicings across the fretboard. Use the arrows to see each shape and fingering — and tap any dot on the diagram to hear that note.
C Minor Guitar Chord
A dark, emotional barre chord rooted at the 3rd fret. C Minor adds drama and depth to progressions in keys like C minor and Eb major.
Also known as
- Cm
- C-
- C m
- Cmin
- C min
- Cminor
- C minor
How to Play This Chord
Position your fingers on the fretboard as shown in the diagram. The vertical lines represent the strings, from low E (left) to high E (right), and the horizontal lines are the frets. Numbers inside the dots indicate which finger to use: 1 (index), 2 (middle), 3 (ring), 4 (pinky). An X means don't play that string; an O means play it open. A bar spanning multiple strings means one finger presses across all of them at once — this is known as a barre chord.
Tips & Tricks
There's no convenient open shape for C minor, so most players use a barre chord at the 3rd fret (Am shape) or the 8th fret (Em shape). If you're new to barre chords, the 3rd-fret position is a solid place to build strength since the fret spacing is manageable.