Minor Chords
The emotional counterpart to major chords - melancholic, introspective, and profound
How Minor Chords Are Built
A minor chord is built by lowering the 3rd of a major chord by one semitone:
Minor Chord Formula
Root - Minor 3rd - Perfect 5th
Or in semitones: 0 - 3 - 7
Example: A Minor
- Root: A
- Minor 3rd: C (3 semitones above A)
- Perfect 5th: E (7 semitones above A)
The Key Difference
Compare A major (A-C#-E) to A minor (A-C-E). That single half-step difference in the 3rd creates the emotional contrast between bright and dark.
The Sound of Minor
Emotional Qualities
- Sad and melancholic
- Introspective and contemplative
- Mysterious and dark
- Often associated with longing or loss
Musical Uses
- Relative minor keys (vi chord in major keys)
- Ballads and emotional songs
- Creating contrast in progressions
- Blues, folk, and classical music