To play minor chords on piano, all it takes to create them is dropping down one key (aka half step) on the third note; all other notes will remain the same.
Major chords sound lively and joyful while minor chords have more melancholic tones due to a different interval between their root note and third note.
Root Note
Root Note of Chord
Minor chords that are in their root position feature stable intervals between Root, Major Third and Perfect Fifth notes; when inverted however, these change dramatically.
Initial understanding of inversions should include how you can alter minor chord roots to form new ones and thus form different kinds of minor chords. We will learn more about this in our lesson on Chord Inversions; for now just focus on mastering notes found at root positions of minor chords so that when combined they will allow you to play amazing piano chords!
Minor Third
Minor Third in music refers to an interval consisting of three half-steps (semitones). It is an integral component of chord theory and learning how to recognize it can expand your musical vocabulary and increase improvisational capabilities.
One easy way to identify this chord is by matching its first note with its title (for instance “Greensleeves”). Another great method is listening to famous examples; once familiarity has been gained it should become easy to recognize by ear.
The Minor Third is an dissonant interval which adds tension to a melody, as well as carrying melancholy qualities which suggest an emotional pause or unrest. Learning this interval will help create different emotions in piano music – it can be found both major and minor triads, scales melodies and chord progressions.
Perfect Fifth
As you learn major and minor piano chords, you will need a firm understanding of intervals. A perfect fifth (also referred to as perfect unison) has an equal ratio between 1:1 and 2:1 while 4:3 makes up its fourth. In general, these intervals sound “perfect.”
Build any chord using only three basic keyboard notes – a root note, third interval and fifth interval. However, the fifth can have different qualities that affect its tonality or whether a chord is major or minor. When building minor 7th chords this step must first take place: finding its root note; secondly its third interval (if applicable); finally finding its third note which in the minor version will either be lower or flattened from that found in major versions; only then can minor 7th chords form successfully.
Major Third
A major third is an interval that spans two whole steps in pitch, making it one of the most widely used intervals in music – especially chords consisting of C, D and E notes.
Intervals are fundamental components of piano music and other types of musical performances, providing a foundation upon which harmony rests. Understanding intervals will enable you to more quickly read sheet music or play by ear. Furthermore, they will assist with developing keyboard geography (keyboard orientation) so that moving across the keyboard becomes much simpler and effortless.
John Legend’s All of Me is an excellent example of this transition; when moving from minor chord to major chord in its chorus, its sound changes dramatically because its second note is a major third higher than its root note. If you understood this theory behind its successful transition, it might make more sense why it sounds so appealing!