C Minor Circle (Cm)
i - VI - iv - V7 progression in C minor with Ab major and G7
C minor lays a half-barre on fret 3 across strings 3, 2, and 1 leaving string 4 open. Moving to Ab major place fingers on frets 1, 3, 4, and 3. For F minor place fingers on frets 1, 1, and 3 leaving string 3 open. Moving to G7 form the triangle with fingers on frets 2, 1, and 2 of strings 3, 2, and 1.
How the chords connect in C minor
The progression
This circle goes through Cm, Ab, Fm and G7, which in C minor are degrees i, VI, iv and V7. At 84 beats per minute, each bar of 4/4 lasts about 2.9 seconds and the whole round about 11.4.
The notes of each chord
In Cm you hear C, Eb and G. Ab holds Ab, C and Eb. In Fm you hear F, Ab and C. G7 holds G, B, D and F.
From one chord to the next
From Cm to Ab, C and Eb stay, and two hand positions stay put. Ab and Fm keep Ab and C in common. Also, two hand positions stay put. From Fm to G7, F stays, and one hand position stays put.
Back to the start
Going back from G7 to Cm, B rises a semitone to C and F falls a whole tone to Eb. The two chords share G.
The hand
Cm takes a barre at fret 3. Ab presses four positions and leaves no string open. Fm rings with string 3 open and three fretted positions. G7 presses three positions and leaves string 4 open. The highest fret in the circle is fret 4, in Ab. Cm uses a barre.
Key map: Cm
- Key signature
- 3 flats
- Scale notes
- C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb
The 7 chords of the key
- iCm
- ii°Ddim
- IIIEb
- ivFm
- VG
- VIAb
- VIIBb
In minor, V is major thanks to the leading tone (raised 7th degree).
- Relative key
- Eb
C Minor Circle (Cm) circle for ukulele
Cm 0333 · Ab 1343 · Fm 1013 · G7 0212
Show ukulele tab and notation
Questions about this ukulele circle
How do you keep the C minor partial barre from muting string 4?
Arch the base of your index finger so its pad presses strings 1 through 3 firmly without touching the open string 4 G.
What role does A flat major play in C minor?
It provides a warm emotional texture as chord VI, paving the way for the subdominant F minor.
Why does G7 conclude so forcefully in C minor?
Because the leading tone B natural on string 2 pulls decisively toward the root note C.