How to Play the Open Position Cm Chord and CAGED Cm Shape
This is video #9 in the series on how to play guitar chords using the so-called CAGED system.
We began with an overview, followed by the five major CAGED chords, then explored the F and B chords to complete the seven natural notes.
Now, we move into the minor chords, starting with the open-position Cm chord. This chord is notoriously difficult to play in full, as shown in the Chordacus image.
To make this shape playable, we break it into more manageable fractions. There are two practical options:
- Strings 3–5: This gives us the root, minor 3rd, and 5th—technically a Cm triad. However, it can sound a bit muddy and isn’t often used.
- Strings 2–4: A slightly awkward grip in the open position, but when moved up the neck, it becomes one of my favourite minor shapes.
Once we begin extending the Cm chord or shape, it becomes much more usable—so let’s look at that next.
Cm Chord Extensions
Here are the possible extensions you can build using the Cm shape. If you can visualise the intervals surrounding the shape, you can construct all of these chords:
- Cm chord (root, m3rd, 5th, root)
- Cm7 (root, m3rd, b7, root)
- Cm7b5 (root, b7, m3rd, b5)
- Cmmaj7 (root, m3rd, 5th, 7)
- Cm9 (root, m3rd, b7, 9)
- Cm6 (root, m3rd, 6, root)
- Cm11 (root, b7, 9, 11)
To fully understand these Cm-shaped chords, you need to hear and play them in the context of real songs.
A great example is Roxanne by The Police. In an acoustic version, the first chord of the verse works well as a Cm shape.
Another case is Angels by Robbie Williams. During the solo, there’s a Bm11 that fits nicely in a Cm shape.
The only true open-position Cm chord I’ve come across in a song is in Creepin’ In by Norah Jones.
Building Scales and Arpeggios Around the Cm Chord/Shape
There’s much more you can do with the Cm shape beyond just building chords. You can use it to visualise and play:
- Min7 arpeggio
- Min7b5 arpeggio
- Minor Pentatonic
- Minor Blues scale
- Conspirian
- Dorian
- Aeolian (the natural minor scale)
- Phrygian
Below, you’ll find all the intervals that make up these arpeggios and scales, all positioned around the Cm chord shape.
Even though the full Cm shape is practically unplayable, it’s still essential to learn and visualise it. This allows you to play fractions of the chord, extend it, and use it as a framework for arpeggios and modes.
Of all the contradictions the guitar presents, the Cm shape is my favourite.
The Cm Chord | Related Pages
Guitar chords
Explore how to construct every major and minor chord using the CAGED system.
By understanding how chord shapes connect across the fretboard, you’ll build a solid foundation for navigating the neck with confidence.
This essential method lays the groundwork for extending chords into maj7, min7, 6, 9, and more.
It also helps you unlock arpeggios and modes around each shape, giving you the tools to improvise, compose, and understand how harmony works on the guitar.
The C chord
The open-position C chord is often one of the first shapes we learn. But its true value comes when you see it as part of a system.
By turning it into a moveable shape and identifying all the intervals, you’ll discover the C shape’s full potential.
Intermediate Acoustic
To play intermediate acoustic songs, open-position chords alone won’t cut it.
As arrangements become more intricate, we need to venture up the neck using CAGED barre shapes and partial chords to bring out the full harmonic potential.
We’ll also incorporate bass lines, melodic riffs, chord extensions, and even vocal melodies on the guitar.
Most importantly, we learn how to arrange full parts for two guitars—complementing rather than doubling—so every song sounds complete and dynamic when played together.