Guitar Cm chord diagram
Cm is one of the essential Guitar chords. On Chordier, this chord appears in 190 different songs. On this page, you can find how to play Cm, alternative positions, and core chord transitions.
To play Cm, follow these steps: Place index finger on B string fret 1. Place middle finger on D string fret 1. Place ring finger on A string fret 3. Place pinky on E string fret 3.
Tips
- Place D string with your middle finger and B string with your index finger with a vertical finger angle so nearby strings ring clearly without buzz.
- On D string, press fret 1 with your middle finger close to the fret wire (not on top) for a cleaner tone.
- Mute unused strings to avoid unwanted ringing.
- To play Cm cleanly, every involved string should ring clearly. Make sure both fretted strings (A string, D string, B string, and E string) and open strings sound clean. After shaping the chord, pluck each string one by one and confirm there is no muted or buzzing note.
Chord Theory
- Notes
- C - D# - G
- Intervals
- 1 - b3 - 5
- Chord Type
- Minor — soft and melancholic character
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Voicings
- 7
Alternative Positions
Different ways to play Cm on the fretboard, from beginner-friendly to advanced voicings.
Guitar Cm chord diagram3-3-5-5-4-3
Guitar Cm chord diagram3-3-1-x-1-3
Guitar Cm chord diagram3-3-1-x-4-3
Guitar Cm chord diagramx-3-5-5-4-3
Easy Transition Chords
These chords have similar finger positions to Cm, making them ideal for practice transitions.
1. Cm → C chord transition
To move from Cm to C, follow these steps:
- While playing Cm, lift your pinky from E string fret 3.
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 1 to fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
2. Cm → C7 chord transition
To move from Cm to C7, follow these steps:
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 1 to fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Slide your pinky from E string fret 3 to G string fret 3.
3. Cm → Fadd9 chord transition
To move from Cm to Fadd9, follow these steps:
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
- Keep pinky on E string fret 3.
4. Cm → Am/F chord transition
To move from Cm to Am/F, follow these steps:
- While playing Cm, lift your pinky from E string fret 3.
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
5. Cm → Am7 chord transition
To move from Cm to Am7, follow these steps:
- While playing Cm, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 1 to fret 2.
6. Cm → Caug chord transition
To move from Cm to Caug, follow these steps:
- While playing Cm, lift your pinky from E string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 1 to fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
Most Common Transitions
The most frequent chord transitions from Cm across songs on this site.
1. Cm → G chord transition
To move from Cm to G, follow these steps:
- While playing Cm, lift your pinky from E string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 1 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
On Chordier, songs containing Cm use the transition to G at 21.8%. You can practice this transition in 88 different songs.
2. Cm → F chord transition
To move from Cm to F, follow these steps:
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 1 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Lift your pinky from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 3.
On Chordier, songs containing Cm use the transition to F at 10.6%. You can practice this transition in 48 different songs.
3. Cm → Gm chord transition
To move from Cm to Gm, follow these steps:
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 1 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
- Keep pinky on E string fret 3.
On Chordier, songs containing Cm use the transition to Gm at 8.5%. You can practice this transition in 18 different songs.
4. Cm → Bb chord transition
To move from Cm to Bb, follow these steps:
On Chordier, songs containing Cm use the transition to Bb at 8.5%. You can practice this transition in 26 different songs.
5. Cm → Fm chord transition
To move from Cm to Fm, follow these steps:
- While playing Cm, lift your middle finger from D string fret 1.
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
- Slide your pinky from E string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
On Chordier, songs containing Cm use the transition to Fm at 8.3%. You can practice this transition in 25 different songs.
Compatible Scales
These scales include Cm and highlight the companion chords that fit the same key.
Songs Using Cm Chord
Popular songs that feature the Cm chord, perfect for practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cm suitable for beginners on Guitar?
Cm sits in the intermediate range for Guitar players. It uses a 3-fret span. Work on clean tone before pushing tempo.
Any beginner-friendly alternative for Cm?
Cm has a more accessible version for Guitar players. The alternative voicing uses fingering x-3-5-5-4-3. It is a practical bridge between beginner and full voicings.
Which chords pair well with Cm on Guitar?
Cm works well with G and F on Guitar. Based on our catalog data, transitions from Cm to G account for 21.8% (350 total changes in 88 songs), and transitions to F account for 10.6% (170 total changes in 48 songs).
Which songs include Cm?
Chris Stapleton - Death Row Chords is one of 8 songs featuring the Cm chord.