How many flats does C minor have?

Three: B♭, E♭, and A♭ — same as its relative major, E♭ major.

The C natural minor scale — notes, intervals, and pattern

The C natural minor scale has three flats — B♭, E♭, and A♭ — and shares its notes with E♭ major. It's one of the most dramatic minor keys: Beethoven's 5th Symphony and his "Pathétique" Sonata are both in C minor, and the scale carries that gravity.

Interval pattern

The C natural minor scale is built from this fixed pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H):

Wwhole
Hhalf
Wwhole
Wwhole
Hhalf
Wwhole
Wwhole

Every natural minor scale uses this same pattern. The half-steps fall between scale degrees 2–3 and 5–6.

Scale degrees and intervals

Each note of the scale, with its scale-degree name and interval from the root:

Degree	Note	Interval from root	Function
1	C	Root	Tonic
2	D	M2	Supertonic
3	Eb	m3	Mediant
4	F	P4	Subdominant
5	G	P5	Dominant
6	Ab	m6	Submediant
7	Bb	m7	Subtonic / Leading tone

In melody and improvisation

C minor has a long association with stormy, fate-laden music. Bach's Passacaglia, Mozart's 24th piano concerto, and Brahms's 1st symphony are all in C minor. In jazz, "Footprints" by Wayne Shorter and many minor blues sit in C minor.

Relative key

The C natural minor scale shares its notes with Eb major. Same seven pitches, different tonal centre — when a piece moves between them, no accidentals change.

Common mistakes

C natural minor (B♭, E♭, A♭) is distinct from C harmonic minor (which raises the 7th to B natural) and C melodic minor (which raises both 6 and 7 going up). Pop and folk almost always use natural; classical often uses harmonic for the V chord.

Drill it

The Interval Trainer gives you a root note and an interval, and asks you to name the result. Practising the intervals of the C natural minor scale is the fastest way to internalise it as a melodic shape rather than a memorised string of notes.

Open the Interval Trainer →Or drill key signatures

Frequently asked

What are the notes in the C natural minor scale?: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭.
How many flats does C minor have?: Three: B♭, E♭, and A♭ — same as its relative major, E♭ major.
What is the relative major of C minor?: E♭ major.