Minor chords

The MINOR CHORD is the major chord's darker twin — sad, moody, serious.

Recipe: root, up a MINOR 3rd (3 semitones), then a MAJOR 3rd (4 semitones). It is the mirror of the major recipe: 3+4 instead of 4+3. Both end on the same perfect 5th.

A minor = A, C, E. Written "Am".

Only the middle note differs from the major chord — the 3rd is one semitone lower. That single semitone is the entire difference between happy and sad.

root + 3 + 4 semitones = 1 · ♭3 · 5

A minor: A–C–E.

Practise this in the trainer — it opens with this lesson the first time the concept comes up.