Fingering and position
Place the index on the 3rd fret of the A string, the ring finger on the 5th fret of the D string, the little finger on the 5th fret of the G string, the middle finger on the 4th fret of the B string, the index on the 3rd fret of the high E string. One string is muted, do not play it. A barre covers the 3rd fret between strings 1 and 5.
Difficulty
The Cm chord is advanced: often a barre or a stretched fingering. Tackle it once your basics are fluid.
Often paired chords
Exercise: shuffle it in
A chord on its own gets forgotten. The right reflex: shuffle it with the chords you already know. Launch a shuffle that includes this chord and play it 10 times in different contexts.
The Cm chord truly comes alive in motion. Launch a shuffle that includes it and play it across 3 or 4 different contexts: that is the best way to embed it in finger memory. Category: Advanced.
Play a shuffle with CmFrequently asked questions
- What is the fingering for the Cm chord on guitar?
- Place the index on the 3rd fret of the A string, the ring finger on the 5th fret of the D string, the little finger on the 5th fret of the G string, the middle finger on the 4th fret of the B string, the index on the 3rd fret of the high E string. One string is muted, do not play it. A barre covers the 3rd fret between strings 1 and 5.
- Is the Cm chord easy for a beginner?
- The Cm chord is advanced: often a barre or a stretched fingering. Tackle it once your basics are fluid.
- Does the Cm chord require a barre?
- Yes, Cm is played with a barre at fret 3. Lay your index flat across the strings and place the other fingers according to the diagram.
- Which chords pair well with Cm on guitar?
- Cm pairs naturally with G, B♭, B, F♯m. Practise them in a shuffle to memorise the transitions.
Further reading