C Minor Key Signature

C minor has 3 flats — B♭, E♭, A♭. Here's the signature on the staff, the full scale, its relative major, and the trick to recognize it instantly.

key signature with 3 flats
Accidentals
3 flats — B♭, E♭, A♭
Minor scale
C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭
Relative major
E♭ major
Tonic
C

Go further

Practice free in your browser

400+ questions, seven free lessons, ear training, and progress tracking — 100% private: no account, no data collected.

Open the practice app

Reading the C Minor signature

C minor borrows its 3 flats straight from its relative major, E♭ major. Beyond the signature, minor keys typically raise the seventh degree into a leading tone, so expect an extra accidental in the music that the key signature never shows.

The C Minor scale

The C minor scale runs C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭. Every flattened note in the piece takes the key's accidentals automatically, which is exactly what the signature saves you from writing note by note.

C Minor and its relative major

C minor shares its signature — 3 flats — with its relative major, E♭ major, a minor third above the tonic. They use the same seven pitches; what tells them apart is which note the music settles on and treats as home.

Neighboring keys on the circle of fifths

C Minor — frequently asked

How many sharps or flats does C minor have?

C minor has 3 flats — B♭, E♭, A♭.

What is the relative major of C minor?

The relative major of C minor is E♭ major — it shares the identical key signature (3 flats).

What notes are in the C minor scale?

The C minor scale is C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭.

Go further

Practice free in your browser

400+ questions, seven free lessons, ear training, and progress tracking — 100% private: no account, no data collected.

Open the practice app