Cmineur

Cmineur is the designation used in French-language music theory for the key of C minor. In tonal music, C minor is the i key of the C natural minor scale: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C. The key signature has three flats: Bb, Eb, and Ab. Its relative major is Eb major, and its parallel major is C major.

The mood of music in C minor varies with context, but it is often associated with solemnity, drama, or intensity, a characteristic exploited across Classical, Romantic, and modern periods. The harmonic minor form raises the seventh degree (Bb to B natural) to strengthen the dominant chord, while melodic minor passages raise the sixth and seventh degrees when ascending (A♭ to A natural and B♭ to B natural) and typically revert on descent.

Key repertoire examples include Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, which is in C minor, as well as Chopin’s Nocturnes in C minor (for instance Op. 48 No. 1), among many Romantic works that use the key to achieve dramatic effect. The key remains a common choice for symphonic movements, sonatas, concertos, and chamber music, where its tonal gravity supports narrative arcs and expressive climaxes.