C minor

C minor is a minor scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.^[1] Its key signature consists of three flats.^[1] Its relative major is E major and its parallel major is C major.

The C natural minor scale is:

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The C harmonic minor and melodic minor scales are:

Scale degree chords

The scale degree chords of C minor are:

• Tonic – C minor
• Supertonic – D diminished
• Mediant – E-flat major
• Subdominant – F minor
• Dominant – G minor
• Submediant – A-flat major
• Subtonic – B-flat major

Notable compositions

• Charles-Valentin Alkan
  • Prelude Op. 31, No. 16 (Assez lentement)
  • Symphony for Solo Piano, 1st movement: Allegro
  • Trois grandes études, Op. 76, No. 3 "Mouvement semblable et perpetuel"
• Johannes Sebastian Bach
  • Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582
  • Lute Suite in C minor, BWV 997
  • Cello Suite No. 5, BWV 1011
  • The Musical Offering, BWV 1079
  • Partita No. 2, BWV 826
• Ludwig van Beethoven (See Beethoven and C minor)
  • Piano Sonata No. 5
  • Piano Sonata No. 8 (Pathétique)
  • Piano Concerto No. 3
  • Coriolan Overture
  • Symphony No. 5
  • Choral Fantasy
  • Piano Sonata No. 32
• Johannes Brahms
  • Symphony No. 1
  • String Quartet Op. 51/1
  • Piano Trio No. 3
  • Piano Quartet No. 3
• Anton Bruckner
  • Symphony No. 1
  • Symphony No. 2
  • Symphony No. 8
• Frédéric Chopin
  • Rondo Op. 1
  • Piano Sonata No. 1
  • Étude Op. 10, No. 12 (Revolutionary)
  • Étude Op. 25, No. 12 (Ocean)
  • Prélude Op. 28, No. 20 "Funeral March"
  • Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48, No. 1
  • Nocturne in C minor, Op. posth. (Chopin)
  • Mazurka Op. 56, No. 3
• Gabriel Fauré
  • Élégie, Op. 24
• Joseph Haydn
  • Piano Sonata Hob. XVI/20
• Franz Liszt
  • Transcendental Étude No. 8 "Wilde Jagd"
• Gustav Mahler
  • Symphony No. 2 "Auferstehung"
• Felix Mendelssohn
  • Piano Trio in C minor, MWV Q3
  • Symphony No. 1
  • Organ Sonata, Op. 65, No. 2
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • Great Mass in C minor, K. 427 (417a)
  • Piano Concerto No. 24, K. 491)
  • Maurerische Trauermusik K. 477 (479a)
  • Als Luise die Briefe ihres ungetreuen Liebhabers verbrannte, K. 517
  • Adagio and Fugue in C minor. K. 546
  • Wind Serenade in C minor. K. 388 (384a)
  • Fantasy in C minor for violin and piano, K. 396 (385f)
  • Piano Sonata in C minor, K. 457
  • Fantasy in C minor, K. 475
  • Kleiner Trauermarsch, K. 453a
• Sergei Prokofiev
  • Symphony No. 3, Op. 44
• Sergei Rachmaninoff
  • Piano Concerto No. 2
• Camille Saint-Saëns
  • Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony)
• Dmitri Shostakovich
  • String Quartet No. 8
  • Symphony No. 4
  • Symphony No. 8
• Franz Schubert
  • Symphony No. 4, D. 417
  • Piano Sonata No. 19, D. 958
  • Impromptu No. 1, D. 899

See also

• Key (music)
• Major and minor
• Chord (music)
• Chord notation

References

1. ^ "C Minor Scale". Berklee Pulse. Retrieved 2025-05-18.