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Bass chord companion

C Minor Chord

Learn the C Minor chord on bass with chord tones, intervals, playable arpeggios, and fretboard maps.

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1Cb3Eb5G

Bass chord tones and arpeggios

Play these tones one at a time to outline the chord. The maps show the complete formula; the numbered exercises give an ascending path, including extensions in their written octave.

Standard four-string bass: E1 – A1 – D2 – G2. String 4 is low E; string 1 is high G. Fingers 1–4 are index through little finger; 0 is open. Use comfortable hand positions and shift where indicated.

Root on E string

C Minor complete chord-tone map around string 4, fret 8. Choose individual tones for a bass line.

C Minor Root on E string bass chord-tone mapC Minor complete chord-tone map around string 4, fret 8. Choose individual tones for a bass line.EADG78910111b351b3

Ascending arpeggio

Follow steps 1–3 below. Keep one hand position.

C Minor Root on E string numbered bass arpeggioAscending complete formula: C2, Eb2, G2. Play one numbered note at a time.EADG891011123
StepDegreeNoteString / fretFingerPosition
11C24 / 81Fret 8
2b3Eb24 / 114Fret 8
35G23 / 103Fret 8

Root on A string

C Minor complete chord-tone map around string 3, fret 3. Choose individual tones for a bass line.

C Minor Root on A string bass chord-tone mapC Minor complete chord-tone map around string 3, fret 3. Choose individual tones for a bass line.EADG2345651b351

Ascending arpeggio

Follow steps 1–3 below. Keep one hand position.

C Minor Root on A string numbered bass arpeggioAscending complete formula: C2, Eb2, G2. Play one numbered note at a time.EADG3456123
StepDegreeNoteString / fretFingerPosition
11C23 / 31Fret 3
2b3Eb23 / 64Fret 3
35G22 / 53Fret 3

Full fretboard map

Every C Minor Chord chord tone across the neck, with roots highlighted for quick orientation.

Interactive

Frets 0–24. Select a position or tap a note to hear it.

GDAEGCEbGCEbCEbGCEbGEbGCEbGCCEbGCEbG123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Progression examples using C Minor

Try these progressions to hear the harmony in context. On bass, outline each chord with individual target tones.

Chord Tones

DegreeIntervalNote
1RootC
b3m3Eb
5P5G

Complete Formula

1 – b3 – 5

Compound degrees retain their names: 9, 11, and 13 are extensions. A voicing may place their pitches in a closer register.

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