Minor piano chords are just as essential to master as major ones. A minor chord can simply be thought of as a major chord with its third interval (i.e. middle note) reduced by half step.
To construct a minor triad chord, combine the first, third and fifth notes from their associated minor scale. To add additional chord tones you should count up from the root or number written near its symbol.
C Minor
C Minor triad piano chord is one of the most frequently found in music. You may recognize it from many songs such as “Let It Be” by The Beatles as its opening chord.
It is an interval-building chord which features both minor and major thirds; between C and Eb there is a minor third (1 1/2 tones), while between C and G it is a major second-tone third (2 tones).
Addition of additional notes can create different flavors which musicians refer to as ‘flavors’. One easy way of creating different tones within a chord is inverting it; this involves switching around its notes – for instance moving an Eb into its lower position and C up above.
C Minor has seven scale degrees – tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, and subtonic – each of which has its own name in music theory.
E Minor
E Minor is one of the most frequently seen minor chords, so it is wise to learn its movement to play this chord shape effectively.
To form an Em barre chord, begin by barring all strings but the open low E string with barring wire. Push fret 4 of the B string with your middle finger while fret 5 on D string is pushed with your ring finger.
This chord shape in E minor uses the interval structure m3 1 5. This chord type can be used to construct minor chords.
To form an Em7 bar chord, simply add a minor seventh. This can give your chords more of a somber sound and allow you to explore various inversions for unique tones – it really opens up all kinds of possibilities! Once you get comfortable playing this shape, use it to form other minor chords as needed!
G Minor
G Minor is one of the more widely used minor chords for piano. This chord can be found everywhere from EDM and Hard Dance songs, Drum N Bass tunes, Hip-Hop tracks and Pop. No matter its form or genre it conveys meanness, anger or disquiet in music.
Contrasting with its major counterpart, G minor chord features two intervals – a minor third and flat second – which alter its sound and feel, as well as making it easy to play through chord inversions (changing its notes’ order to create various versions of itself).
Inversions can help shorten chord progressions by shortening their distance between chords. Furthermore, adding notes to an G minor chord to create new flavors and extend it can add even further complexity while still sharing its key and chord quality with its root. This practice of “extending a chord” must be practiced thoroughly for optimal results.
A Minor
The A minor chord can be found in many rock songs, like Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.” Additionally, piano players often employ this chord that creates a melancholic or sad sound due to its minor third, the lower note in its scale.
Minor chords often include numbers after their symbols, for instance Cmin7. This simply indicates that to convert this chord into a minor one, its seventh (usually sharp) must be flattened – this can be done by counting three half steps from its root before finding its seventh note.
By adding minor chords to your repertoire, adding minor chords can really enhance your playing ability and expand your ears, technique and interpretation skills. Practice major and minor chords together can also help your hearing for differences so you’ll always play the correct ones at the appropriate times.