Major chords produce an upbeat, joyful sound while minor chords create a sadder, darker melody. There is an easy way to distinguish major and minor chords – just count how many piano keys (black and white) lie between their root note and third.
Major Triads
Major and minor chords refer to two distinct things. First is how the chord is built; secondly is what kind of seventh it contains – for instance: major chords include major thirds and perfect fifths while minor chords simply contain 1 (the root note), flattened 3rd, and fifth of their named major scale.
Triads can be constructed at any degree of a musical scale, with identical properties no matter whether it be major or minor keys. Their roots notes are drawn on a staff, while third and fifth notes above them are depicted with snowperson symbols (see Chord Symbols for more).
When creating a major triad, keep in mind that there are three piano keys between the root and middle note and two between middle and fifth note – this explains why major chords sound so full and satisfying to our ears.
Major Sevenths
Major seventh chords provide a straightforward method for adding some brightness and vibrancy to any song, and can be found both major and minor key progressions. They’re an invaluable addition that should not be ignored!
Major sevenths tend to be perceived as romantic and soothing when compared to the dissonant dissonance of dominant sevenths, which may also be used to increase tension.
To create a major seventh chord, first create a major triad and add one note that is half step below its root – in other words, to play Cmaj7 simply play C, E and G and add B (which sits a half step beneath your chord’s root).
The major seventh is one of only a few intervals that can be utilized across both minor and major keys, so understanding its pattern is invaluable when writing songs and playing melodies yourself. Maj7 chords also add great accompaniment for many melodies and can be found in some of history’s greatest musical compositions.
Minor Triads
Major chords generally sound brighter and happier than minor ones in music, due to the way tonality is determined by root note and interval content; for instance, C minor contains three notes; these are A, minor third C and perfect fifth E – an interval considered universally consonant which gives stability to its form.
As such, changing the first note from C minor chord to B changes it into C minor. This applies to all minor triads as well. To write one on guitar simply switch out third for flat three; thus why Cm6 and CmMa7 chords are often written with 9s (Cm9, Cm9) so as to be easier for people reading on fretboard; additionally the brightness provided by adding bright 9s provides contrast with darkness from minor 3 chords and can really add life and brightness in songs!
Minor Sevenths
Minor seventh chord progressions can elicit many emotions ranging from sadness to fear, yet still bring hope and strength.
As its name implies, a minor seventh chord consists of the 1st, flattened (lowered), 3rd and 5th notes from its major scale’s major scale as defined by major chords. Like major chords, they’re known as triads because each note composes three separate triads.
Minor chords differ from major ones in that they do not feature the fifth to add tension and produce melancholic emotions; instead they feature a diminished seventh that creates an anchoring force at their root chord.
Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” made use of this chord. The descending arpeggio starts out in A-minor before abruptly shifting into A-major for guitarist John Paul Jones’ solo. This dramatic shift from minor to major adds an emotional resolution that helps connect lyrics with emotions expressed within songs.