Chord C Minor (Cm)

On the piano, the notes of Cm are C, Eb and G. C is the root, Eb the minor third and G the fifth. Said aloud, its notes are C, E flat and G. Cm uses one black key, Eb, and two white keys, C and G.

The gaps in Cm are not equal. C to Eb is three and Eb to G is four semitones. The frequencies in this position are C4 at 261.63 Hz, Eb4 at 311.13 Hz and G4 at 392 Hz, with A4 tuned to 440 Hz.

Your right hand plays C with the thumb, Eb with the middle finger and G with the little finger. From C4 to G4 the hand spans seven semitones.

In the first inversion, C moves up an octave and the lowest note becomes Eb, the minor third. The fingers are 1 - 2 - 5. In the second inversion, Eb moves up an octave and the lowest note becomes G, the fifth. The fingers are 1 - 3 - 5.

Move Eb in Cm up a semitone, to E, and you have C. It shares Eb and G with Eb, two of its three notes.

Cm shows up in five keys. In Eb major it is the vi, in Bb major the ii and in Ab major the iii.