C minor is a minor scale based on C. Its pitches are C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature has three flats. Its harmonic minor raises the B to B. When written in jazz notation, its short form is Cm.

C minor
Relative key E major
Parallel key C major
Dominant key
Subdominant
Notes in this scale
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

Its relative major is E-flat major, and its parallel major is C major.

Use in classical music

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In the Baroque period, music in C minor was usually written with a two-flat key signature. When this music is printed today, sometimes it is still printed in the same way.

C minor has had the meaning of heroic struggle from Beethoven's time and the composer wrote many of his most emotional, dramatic works in this key. This has also been done by many others, following Beethoven's style.

These are just a few of the well-known works to be written in C minor:

Scales and keys

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References

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