Learn › C Minor Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
New Released in April 2026
C Minor Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
The C minor triad on guitar does not need six strings. Three notes, C, Eb and G, on three strings give you Cm anywhere on the neck, in root position, 1st and 2nd inversion.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Cm on each string set
Play only the three strings shown. Inside each set the three shapes follow each other up the neck: when one ends, the next begins.
G-B-e strings
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
D-G-B strings
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Root position
A-D-G strings
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
E-A-D strings
2nd inversion
Root position
1st inversion
Same chord, different bottom note
An inversion just reorders C, Eb and G. Bottom note C: root position. Bottom note Eb: 1st inversion. Bottom note G: 2nd inversion.
Darker than major: the middle note of the major shape moves down one fret.
All Cm triad frets in one table
| String set | Root position | 1st inversion | 2nd inversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-B-e strings | x x x 5 4 3 | x x x 8 8 8 | x x x 12 13 11 |
| D-G-B strings | x x 10 8 8 x | x x 1 0 1 x | x x 5 5 4 x |
| A-D-G strings | x 3 1 0 x x | x 6 5 5 x x | x 10 10 8 x x |
| E-A-D strings | 8 6 5 x x x | 11 10 10 x x x | 3 3 1 x x x |
Frets from the low E string to the high E string; x = string not played.
Make Cm triads automatic
- Start with the G-B-e strings only: three shapes, one minute each.
- Climb the neck through the three shapes and come back down without stopping.
- Pick one fret area, around fret 8, and find Cm on every string set without moving your hand far.
- Last, switch between Cm and another triad in the same area of the neck.
Learn one string set per week and in a month the whole neck is yours.
From one shape to the next
Walk up the G-B-e strings through root position (fret 5) → 1st inversion (fret 8) → 2nd inversion (fret 13), then back down. The top notes G, C, Eb change while the chord stays Cm.
Around fret 8, without moving the hand: G-B-e strings 8-8-8; D-G-B strings 10-8-8; A-D-G strings 6-5-5; E-A-D strings 8-6-5.
Test Cm with your guitar
In ChordRunner chord names come one after another and the microphone checks every chord you play, open shape, barre or triad. It runs in the browser.
Play the demoCommon questions
What are the inversions of Cm on guitar?
Root position (C at the bottom), 1st inversion (Eb at the bottom) and 2nd inversion (G at the bottom). On the top three strings: Root position 5-4-3; 1st inversion 8-8-8; 2nd inversion 12-13-11.
Why learn triad inversions on guitar?
They let you play Cm in any area of the neck with three fingers, so chord changes stay close and the top note can follow a melody.
What does a Cm triad sound like?
Darker than major: the middle note of the major shape moves down one fret.
Can I practise Cm with a game that listens to my guitar?
Yes. ChordRunner hears your guitar through the microphone and checks the chord in any shape or inversion. A USB MIDI keyboard works too.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Try the demoKeep learning
Guitar Chord Chart: 21 Essential Chords
Guitar chord chart with diagrams: the 7 major, 7 minor and 7 seventh chords guitarists use most, how to read a…
Chord Inversions Explained
Chord inversions explained simply: root position, first and second inversion, why they matter, and how to dril…
Easy Guitar Chords for Beginners
Easy guitar chords for beginners: Em, Am, C, G, D, E, A and Dm with diagrams, the order to learn them and how …
Chord Training That Feels Like a Game
Interactive chord training in your browser. Play major, minor, 7th and extended chords on a MIDI keyboard or a…
Master All 12 Major Chords on Piano
Every major chord on piano with notes and fingering, plus an interactive game that drills all 12 until they ar…
Master All 12 Minor Chords on Piano
All 12 minor chords on piano, how they differ from major, and a game that trains instant recall with your MIDI…