C MINOR - PIANO
Chord composition
| I | ♭III | V |
|---|---|---|
| Root | Minor third | Perfect fifth |
| C | D# | G |
ALL ABOUT THE C MINOR CHORD
Chord Composition
The C Minor chord is composed of 3 notes :
- C (Root)
- D# (Minor third)
- G (Perfect fifth)
These notes form a minor triad, giving a darker and more melancholic color.
How to play C Minor on piano
On piano, the C Minor minor chord is played with the notes C, D#, G. The difference from the major chord lies in the lowered third by a semitone.
- Standard fingering: 1-3-5 (thumb-middle-pinky) in right hand
- Minor inversions: particularly expressive, they allow creating smooth melodic voices
- Tonal pedal: use sparingly to accentuate the melancholic character
- Extended voicings: in jazz, minor chords are enriched with 9th and 11th
Sound color
The minor chord on piano has a unique introspective quality. In ballads, play it softer than major chords to create emotional contrast.
Popular chord progressions with C Minor
The C Minor minor chord appears in these progressions:
- i-iv-v progression: natural minor progression
- Andalusian cadence (i-VII-VI-V): very present in Spanish music
- vi-IV-I-V progression: relative major-minor relationship
Styles
Classical: exploit dynamic nuances for emotional expression.
Jazz: add the 9th for richer color.
Famous Songs Using C Minor
This chord appears in many well-known pieces :
- Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin (intro)
- All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
- Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald
- Mad World - Gary Jules