Diatonic Chords of C Minor Scale

How to form diatonic chords in C minor scale?

C Minor Scale

C – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C are the notes of the C minor scale.

Diatonic chords are formed by stacking two generic third notes above each scale note.

C Minor Diatonic Chords

These are the seven minor scale diatonic chords that come from the C minor scale.

Each diatonic chord is labelled with a roman numeral number.

All natural minor scales follow this pattern of chord quality:

i,  iiº,  III,  iv,  v,  VI,  VII

1, 4 and 5 chords in natural minor will always be minor chords. 3, 6 and 7 chords in natural minor scale will always be major chords. 2 chord in natural minor scale will always be diminished chord. A different pattern applies to harmonic minor: i   iiº   III+   iv   V   VI   viiº and melodic minor:  i   ii   III+  IV V  viº viiº

There are a total of 13 minor scale diatonic chords that harmonize the C minor scale. (7 in natural minor, 3 in harmonic minor and 3 more in melodic minor) 

The seven diatonic chords in the C natural minor key are:

i  —  C minor chord  ( C – E♭ – G )
iiº  —  D diminished chord  ( D – F – A♭ )
III  —  E Flat major chord  ( E♭ – G – B♭ )
iv  —  F minor chord  ( F – A♭ – C )
v  —  G minor chord  ( G – B♭ – D )
VI  —  A Flat major chord  ( A♭ – C – E♭ )
VII  —  B Flat major chord  ( B♭ – D – F )

The three diatonic chords in the C harmonic minor are:

III+  —  E Flat augmented chord  ( E♭ – G – B )
V  —  G major chord  ( G – B – D )
viiº  —  B diminished chord  ( B – D – F )

The three diatonic chords in the C melodic minor are:

ii  —  D minor chord  ( D – F – A )
IV  —  F major chord  ( F – A – C )
viº —  A diminished chord  ( A – C – E♭ )

Minor Scale Diatonic Chords in Other Keys

Diatonic Chords of C Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of C Sharp Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of D Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of D Sharp Minor Scale / E Flat Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of E Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of F Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of F Sharp Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of G Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of G Sharp Minor Scale / A Flat Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of A Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of A Sharp Minor Scale / B Flat Minor Scale
Diatonic Chords of B Minor Scale

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