A minor is an expressive chord capable of conveying many different feelings ranging from longing to sadness. By exploring its inversions, A minor opens up an array of storytelling and creative embellishment opportunities.
Minor chords, similar to major chords, consist of three intervals: root note, third interval and fifth interval. These chords take their name because their sound has a lower tone compared to major chords.
Scales
Minor chords consist of three basic keyboard notes, including the root note, minor third note and perfect fifth. Like major chords, they can be formed using scales; however, learning them requires more than memorizing patterns of half and whole steps.
Once you understand how these patterns are utilized on the piano, you will be able to hear what each note is conveying and apply this understanding directly to any chord – making the transition between playing scales and chords much smoother.
There are more forms of minor chords beyond major and minor triads; such as minor sixth (m6) and ninth chords. Extended chords that combine minor with major can also create tension and melancholy in a song – an example being adding a major third to a minor seventh chord to create tension and melancholy for example – providing musicians with endless musical opportunities.
Inversions
Root A provides the tonal center and gives a minor quality to this chord, while C adds tension and melancholy; finally E provides stability to complete it all.
Chord inversions allow you to seamlessly transition from one chord to the next in an effortless and musical manner, providing an excellent opportunity to practice chord progressions by hand.
To create a minor chord inversion, take the bottom note of your basic chord and move it upward to create your first inversion! Repeat this process using middle and top notes of the chord for further inversions. Using these advanced techniques will elevate your piano playing to new heights of expressiveness and creativity; continue practicing and you will be amazed at what music comes out!
Finger placement
Keyboards feature small bumps on the F and J keys to indicate where you should rest your index fingers when not typing, which is known as the home row. It is important that at each break in your typing session without looking at your keyboard you return back here without looking away from this position.
The left little finger is responsible for Section A keys which include back quote, tab, caps lock and shift keys as well as number 1 and letter Q through Z keys as well as letters W through X on its ring finger; Section B keys fall to left ring finger; while right pinky finger handles Section C keys including number 3 key letters I through K.
Try using as many fingers when typing, especially your thumbs, in order to prevent wrist, arm and shoulder pain.
Listening
Learning minor chords is an essential skill for any musician. Popular, rock and classical songs all contain chord progressions which form their basis – understanding them allows improvisation as well as creating your own interpretations of music.
To create a minor chord, take an existing major triad and lower its middle note – so for instance if the notes C, E and G belong to a major chord then for its minor version you would lower this note to E flat.
Minor triads also differ slightly in their order of notes, with minor third shifting lower while perfect fifth stays at the top – giving a more open sound and aiding with voice leading in chord progressions.