Chord progressions in C minor

The seven chords of C minor and the progressions producers use most, all spelled out in C minor. Press play to hear any of them, download the MIDI, or open one in the generator to change it.

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The chords in C minor

Notes: C D Eb F G Ab Bb · C minor scale · Relative major: Eb major

Tap a chord to hear it. Each on its own page: Cm · Ddim · Eb · Fm · Gm · Ab · Bb

The minor anthem loop

C minor
CmiAbVIEbIIIBbVII

i, VI, III, VII. The minor four-chord loop behind a huge share of house, EDM and pop.

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Epic minor

C minor
CmiBbVIIAbVIBbVII

i, VII, VI, VII. Rising and falling around the tonic, a staple of film music and trance.

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Minor with a lift

C minor
CmiFmivBbVIIEbIII

i, iv, VII, III. Starts dark and ends on a major chord, so the loop always wants to go round again.

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The epic cadence

C minor
AbVIBbVIICmi

VI, VII, i. Two major chords climbing into the minor tonic: a classic way to land a big chorus or a drop.

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Two-chord minor

C minor
CmiBbVII

i to VII. Two chords leave room for the groove; common in tech house, techno and hip hop.

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Minor sevenths

C minor
Cm7i7Fm7iv7

i7 to iv7. Soft and moody, with the colour in the sevenths. At home in deep house and lo-fi.

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Stepping down

C minor
CmiBbVIIAbVIGmv

i, VII, VI, v. Walking down the scale from the tonic, a natural-minor version of the descending Andalusian cadence.

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Using these progressions

  • C minor and Eb major use the same notes, so progressions from either work in the same track.
  • Keep the bass on the root of each chord and play the chords above it, the way these progressions are voiced.
  • For house and techno, try the chords as short stabs on the offbeat; for pads, hold each chord for a whole bar.

Every progression on the site, in every key, as MIDI in one zip: free MIDI chord progressions.

More chord progressions

Chord progressions by key

Play these chords with VISIONS OF TOMORROW →71 Serum 2 presets for house and techno, with pads, keys, plucks and stabs made for chords like these. $29.

Or start with the free pack: 24 sounds from all three packs, and a 25% code for the full packs a few days later.

Questions

What chords are in C minor?

Cm, Ddim, Eb, Fm, Gm, Ab, Bb. The second chord, Ddim, is diminished, so most progressions leave it out.

What is the relative major of C minor?

Eb major. The two keys share every note.

What are common chord progressions in C minor?

Cm Ab Eb Bb (the minor anthem loop); Cm Bb Ab Bb (epic minor); Cm Fm Bb Eb (minor with a lift).

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