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The C minor scale is one of the most commonly used minor scales in piano music. There are three types of the C minor scale, which are:
C Natural Minor Scale: The natural minor scale is the most common type of minor scale. It is formed by lowering the third, sixth, and seventh notes of the corresponding major scale. In the case of C minor, the notes in the natural minor scale are C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, and B♭.
C Harmonic Minor Scale: The harmonic minor scale is similar to the natural minor scale, but with a raised seventh note. In the case of C minor, the notes in the harmonic minor scale are C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, and B♮.
C Melodic Minor Scale: The melodic minor scale is a variation of the natural minor scale that has a raised sixth and seventh note when ascending, but is the same as the natural minor scale when descending. In the case of C minor, the notes in the ascending melodic minor scale are C, D, E♭, F, G, A♮, and B♮, while the notes in the descending melodic minor scale are C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, and B♭.
C Minor Scale Overview
| C Minor Scale Overview | |
|---|---|
| Keyboard Layout |  |
| Staff Layout |  |
| Key Signature | Three flats (B♭, E♭, A♭) |
| Notes of Scale | C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C |
| RH Fingering | 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5 |
| LH Fingering | 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1 |
| Relative Scale | E-flat Major Scale |
| Parallel Scale | C Major Scale |
VIDEO: How to play the C Minor scale on the piano
Visualize the C Minor Scale layout on the keyboard
The layout of this scale is
- Natural Minor
- Harmonic Minor
- Melodic Minor
The Natural Minor Scale layout on the piano
The C Harmonic Minor scale layout of the C on the piano
The Melodic Minor layout on the piano. Keep in mind that this is the layout of the ascending Melodic Minor scale. When the Melodic Minor is played descending, the notes revert back to the Natural Minor version (see the first tab).
Read the C Minor Scale on the staff
This is what this scale looks like on the staff
- Natural Minor
- Harmonic Minor
- Melodic Minor
The Natural Minor Scale in one octave on the staff
The Harmonic Minor scale in one octave on the staff
The Melodic Minor Scale in one octave on the staff
Play the C Minor Scale with hands alone
Core positions
- Natural Minor
- Harmonic Minor
- Melodic Minor
Right Hand Core Positions for the Natural Minor Scale
Left Hand Core Positions for the Natural Minor Scale
Right Hand Core Positions for the Harmonic Minor Scale
Left Hand Core Positions for the Harmonic Minor Scale
Right Hand Core Positions for the Melodic Minor Scale
Left Hand Core Positions for the Melodic Minor Scale
Play the C Minor Scale with hands together
First sync point
Second sync point
Expand the C Minor Scale to more octaves
Playing this scale in more octaves
- Natural Minor
- Harmonic Minor
- Melodic Minor
The Natural Minor Scale in two octaves on the staff
The Harmonic Minor scale in two octaves on the staff
The Melodic Minor Scale in two octaves on the staff
Avoid common mistakes in the C Minor Scale
Common mistakes in this scale are
Other techniques related to the C Minor Piano Scale:
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Browse Major Scales
C Major Scale
Notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
G Major Scale
Notes: G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
D Major Scale
Notes: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
A Major Scale
Notes: A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
E Major Scale
Notes: E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, E
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
B Major Scale
Notes: B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, B
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 4 3 2 1 - 4 3 2 1
G-flat Major Scale
Notes: G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G♭
RH Fingering: 2 3 4 - 1 2 3 - 1 2
LH Fingering: 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1 - 4
D-flat Major Scale
Notes: D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C, D♭
RH Fingering: 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 1 2
LH Fingering: 3 2 1 - 4 3 2 1 - 4
A-flat Major Scale
Notes: A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G, A♭
RH Fingering: 3 4 - 1 2 3 -1 2 3
LH Fingering: 3 2 1 - 4 3 2 1 -3
E-flat Major Scale
Notes: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭,C, D, E♭
RH Fingering: 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 1 2 3
LH Fingering: 3 2 1 - 4 3 2 1 -3
B-flat Major Scale
Notes: B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A, B♭
RH Fingering: 4 - 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4
LH Fingering: 3 2 1 - 4 3 2 1 - 3
F Major Scale
Notes: F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 4 -1 2 3 4
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
Browse Minor Scales
A Minor Scale
Notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
E Minor Scale
Notes: E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D, E
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
B Minor Scale
Notes: B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G, A, B
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 4 3 2 1 - 4 3 2 1
F-sharp Minor Scale
Notes: F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯
RH Fingering: 3 4 - 1 2 3 - 1 2 3
LH Fingering: 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1 - 4
C-sharp Minor Scale
Notes: C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯
RH Fingering: 3 4 - 1 2 3 - 1 2 3
LH Fingering: 3 2 1 - 4 3 2 1 - 3
G-sharp Minor Scale
Notes: G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯
RH Fingering: 3 4 - 1 2 3 - 1 2 3
LH Fingering: 3 2 1 - 4 3 2 1 - 3
F Minor Scale
Notes: F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 4 - 1 2 3 4
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
C Minor Scale
Notes: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
G Minor Scale
Notes: G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
D Minor Scale
Notes: D, E, F, G, A, B♭, C, D
RH Fingering: 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 5
LH Fingering: 5 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2 1
B-flat Minor Scale
Notes: B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭
RH Fingering: 4- 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4
LH Fingering: 2 1 - 3 2 1 - 4 3 2
E-flat Minor Scale
Notes: E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭
RH Fingering: 3 - 1 2 3 4 - 1 2 3
LH Fingering: 2 1 - 4 3 2 1 - 3 2
