Chord Progressions in C Minor

Common progressions in C minor

i-iv-v-i: Cm – Fm – Gm – Cm

The basic minor progression: home, away, back home. (Cm = C Eb G · Fm = F Ab C · Gm = G Bb D · Cm = C Eb G)

i-VI-III-VII: Cm – Ab – Eb – Bb

A big, epic minor loop heard in film music and rock. (Cm = C Eb G · Ab = Ab C Eb · Eb = Eb G Bb · Bb = Bb D F)

i-iv-V-i: Cm – Fm – G – Cm

Like the basic minor progression, but the major V pulls harder back home. (Cm = C Eb G · Fm = F Ab C · G = G B D · Cm = C Eb G)

iiø-V-i: Dm7b5 – G7 – Cm7

A dark, smooth way back to the minor home chord. (Dm7b5 = D F Ab C · G7 = G B D F · Cm7 = C Eb G Bb)

i-VII-VI-VII: Cm – Bb – Ab – Bb

A rocking back-and-forth that never quite lands. (Cm = C Eb G · Bb = Bb D F · Ab = Ab C Eb · Bb = Bb D F)

i-VI-iv-V: Cm – Ab – Fm – G

A dramatic loop with a strong pull at the end. (Cm = C Eb G · Ab = Ab C Eb · Fm = F Ab C · G = G B D)

How to practise a progression

1. Count four beats per chord and name it out loud.
2. Loop the progression until you no longer look at your hands.
3. Speed up only when every change is clean.