Minor swing is one of the first gypsy jazz tunes many guitarists learn, thanks to its accessible chord progression and test your abilities as a gypsy jazz guitarist.
This lesson presents four etudes for this popular song with differing levels of difficulty, all using similar chord voicing but slightly varying chord arrangements.
A minor
The key of A minor conveys tenderness and sorrowful emotion with subtle religious overtones. Additionally, this key can also express unease and despair.
A minor also features the i-iv-V progression, an effective structure for creating melancholic music. Articulation and phrasing can have an enormous effect on emotional resonance of songs written in minor keys.
B minor
B minor is the key of calm expectation and patient hope, yet can also evoke dark emotions such as despair, rage, jealousy, and fury.
This chord can be played as a barre chord with one finger covering multiple strings at once; this makes strumming easier and creates a nice sound; however, be careful to mute the low E string with your index finger before strumming!
C minor
C minor is often used to express sadness and introspection in songs like Adele’s Rollin’ in the Deep.
This chord can often be found in its first inversion, in which Eb is at the bottom and G and C sit above. These sus chords create a powerful sound.
Practice shifting among chords of various kinds to develop finger dexterity. Start slow, and gradually speed up.
D minor
D minor chords possess individual qualities–or personalities–that make them appealing to artists. Song writers frequently use D minor key to produce pieces with either brooding melancholy or upbeat positivity as the theme for their compositions.
This chord progression offers contrast and suspense by beginning with B-flat major and F minor chords followed by D minor chords at the end. Try playing around with these chords until you find something unique to yourself!
E minor
E minor is known for its deep and somber tones that often lend itself to ballads and slow songs to create an air of melancholy or introspection.
As minor scales offer three distinct kinds of chords, their chord-building possibilities far outstrip those found with major scales. To expand your knowledge in this key, play all three major, harmonic and melodic minor scales to form chords of all three varieties – major, harmonic and melodic minor scales!
F minor
F minor is an atmospheric and melancholic key, popularly used by classical composers such as Haydn. Additionally, it’s often chosen by rock musicians and hard dancers like Dubstep for compositions in this key.
When playing in a minor key, borrowing chords from related keys is often beneficial in creating tension and building anticipation in the progression. Furthermore, chord progressions can also be modulated to a different key using pivot chords.
G minor
G minor is one of the lesser-used minor chords, yet its somber sound adds emotional depth. This song’s seductive chord progression and flowing harmonies evoke feelings of longing and yearning that create a haunting yet melancholic atmosphere.
Discover the potential of your key signature with music software. Whether you’re a producer using a digital audio workstation or guitarist experimenting with amp simulation software, music software can help expand your musical voice.
H minor
Harmonic minor chords use two changes that raise both flat sixth and natural seventh scale degrees; we refer to these variable scale degrees as pivot or tendency tones which affect how minor chords sound.
This type of alternation occurs frequently in classical music and can also be heard frequently in jazz and some rock genres. It’s an essential concept to understand.
I minor
The I minor chord features a soothing tone that attracts songwriters looking to convey more intimate emotions in their songs, such as Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine and Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling.
Minor key chord progressions come in various flavors, and natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales offer various chord-building possibilities. The primary distinction lies in voice leading; raised tendency tones (also called pivot tones) tend to prefer ascending vocal lines while natural tendency tones tend to prefer downward singing lines.
J minor
Musical notes each have unique personalities, while specific chords elicit certain emotions.
The key of J minor is an extremely dark one, often used to represent despair, sorrow and mourning. Many popular songs have been composed in this key, including Beyonce Ft Jay-Z – Crazy in Love and Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball; J minor can also be found used widely within metal music genres.