From Beach Boys classic “California Girls” to classical works sung in major keys, most songs contain chords from a major scale. By contrast, minor chords evoke feelings of melancholy and sadness.
Though it may appear complex, the difference is actually very straightforward: in a minor triad, the third note is reduced (lowered).
Major vs. Minor
Chords are one of the cornerstones of music. Their chords can elicit all sorts of emotional responses, from hope and happiness to sadness and melancholy. One key distinction between major and minor chords lies in the pitch of their third note.
Minor chords feature thirds that are three half steps lower than their root notes. This difference in pitch creates a distinct sound and mood.
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Triads
Triads form the core of most chords in music. When combined in different combinations, triads create expressive qualities for music that musical artists use to elicit certain moods and emotions in listeners; major chords tend to sound happy or bright while minor triads sound sadder or melancholy.
Major and minor triads differ by virtue of the interval between their third and fifth notes – major triads typically feature a perfect fifth between their third and fifth, whereas minor ones can have either an extended fifth or diminished fifth between these elements.
To form a C Major triad, begin with its root note (C), then move up four half steps, as if playing piano keyboard, to land on E and move further three half steps to G, which completes it.
Intervals
Intervals, or distances between notes, can help make reading and playing music much simpler. By changing intervals between them, chords can transform their mood instantly!
Minor major chords tend to sound darker and more melancholic than major ones due to the lower-sounding third note they contain – this explains why Cm7 sounds significantly different than Cmaj7 chords.
One easy way to identify an interval is to look at its upper note and see if it fits within the major scale that starts on its tonic (C to C for a C Major chord), otherwise, assume it must be minor since this would mean having lower-sounding 3rds and 4ths.
Your can also determine the quality of an interval by looking at its distance from an ideal or major interval, for instance if it exceeds it by more than half step, it would be considered an augmented interval; conversely if it falls shorter by less than half step than major, then it would be considered diminished interval.
Inversions
Harmony may seem complicated at times, but even simple chords can add tremendous flavor and emotion to a song. Major and minor chords provide two of these basic structures – with major being composed of root note, major third note and perfect fifth seven semitones above root, while minor chords feature minor third and minor seventh tones respectively.
Chord inversions involve shifting notes above the bass in different octaves or doubled. Chord inversions can create tension or ease it; without them, songs would likely become boring and repetitive.
Common wisdom holds that major is “happy” while minor is “sad.” However, this may not always be the case; for instance REM’s heartbreaking song “Everybody Hurts” by their debut album was composed in D minor while Peggy Lee’s soulful tune “Fever” by Peggy Lee was composed in C major; both provide different emotions and meaning. By adding minor chords to major songs it creates tension while adding major chords into minor songs helps relieve that tension by pushing forward their music forward by moving it forward by pushing forward their musical compositions forwards by moving along its musical evolution.