C minor

{{Short description|Musical scale and key signature}}

{{About|the C minor scale|the chord C minor|minor chord}}{{More citations needed|date=May 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}{{Infobox musical scale

| name=C minor
{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key c \minor s16 \clef F \key c \minor s^"" }

| relative=E-flat major

| parallel=C major

| dominant=G minor

| subdominant=F minor

| first_pitch=C

| second_pitch=D

| third_pitch=E{{music|flat}}

| fourth_pitch=F

| fifth_pitch=G

| sixth_pitch=A{{music|flat}}

| seventh_pitch=B{{music|flat}}

}}

C minor is a minor scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E♭ (musical note), F, G, A♭ (musical note), and B♭ (musical note).{{Cite web |title=C Minor Scale |url=https://pulse.berklee.edu/scales/c-minor-scale.html |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Berklee Pulse}} Its key signature consists of three flats. Its relative major is E-flat major and its parallel major is C major.

The C natural minor scale is:

{{block indent|

\header { tagline = ##f }

scale = \relative b { \key c \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature

c^"C natural minor scale" d es f g as bes c bes as g f es d c2 \clef F \key c \minor }

\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }

}}

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The C harmonic minor and melodic minor scales are:

{{block indent|

\header { tagline = ##f }

scale = \relative b { \key c \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature

c^"C harmonic minor scale" d es f g as b c b as g f es d c2 }

\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }

}}

{{block indent|

\header { tagline = ##f }

scale = \relative b { \key c \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature

c^"C melodic minor scale (ascending and descending)" d es f g a b c bes! as! g f es d c2 }

\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }

}}