The SEVEN CHORDS in a MINOR KEY
As there are seven notes in a Minor Scale, there are seven basic chords in a Minor Key, named for one of the notes in the scale. From these seven chords come all sort of variations, but first one should know the basics. Let’s use the Key of A Minor as it has no sharp or flat notes so we can look at primary notes. Also remember the Minor Scale is WHWWHWW. (W=Whole Step H= Half Step).
The point of playing in a key is you limit your self to those notes included in the key. This is not an absolute rule as it is possible to use notes outside the key, and in twelve tone music one uses all the notes, but to understand the structure of music, you need to understand playing in Key first, before you go exploring. Once you learn it you can flow around the edges, but often new people try it and sound like they don’t have a clue what they are doing. Because they don’t.
Each chord is named after a note in the Key. Each of these chords is numbered by the order it holds in the Key. For instance in the Key of A Minor the 1 Chord is A Minor. The chord E would be the 5 chord (A B C D E the fifth chord).
Each chord is named after a note in the Key. Each of these chords is numbered by the order it holds in the Key. For instance in the Key of A Minor the 1 Chord is A Minor. The chord E would be the 5 chord (A B C D E the fifth chord).
The 1 Chord is named after the first note in the Key and is always Minor in a Minorr Key. In this case A Minor. The 1 chord of a Minor Key is always the result of a Minor triad. A Minor chord is named after the source note (1), skips a Half Step and a Whole Step to the 3 note, then skips two whole steps to the 5 note. The Triad is the note naming the chord, skip to the 3, skip to the 5.
The 3 Chord is always Major in a Minor Key. In this case C Manor.
The 4 Chord is always Minor in a Minor Key. In this case D Minor.
The 6 Chord is always Major in a Minor Key. In this case F Major.
The 7 Chord is always a Major Chord in a Minor Key, in this case G Major.
Notice the Key forces the arrangement of notes in the chords. To be in key you have to land on the notes of the Key. The 1 chord has to be Minor in order to land on the three notes called for by the triad and notes in the Key. The 6 chord has to be Major. If you used A Major chord that would have a C#, and C# is note in the Key of A Minor, so you have to use C. That is the reason for the Diminished 2 chord. The triad calls for the notes B, D and F, The Key says you can’t sharp or flat them, so you use these three notes which each have Minor Shifts.
Whole Step
2 frets
2 frets
Whole Step
2 frets
2 frets
Whole Step
2 frets
2 frets
Whole Step
2 frets
2 frets
Whole Step
2 frets
2 frets
Half Step
1 Fret
1 Fret
Half Step
1 Fret
1 Fret
The 2 Chord is a Diminished Chord, In this case B Diminished. A Diminished is the combination of two Minor Shifts. Start with a the source note (1), skip a Half Step and a Whole Step to the 3 note, then skip a Half Step and a Whole Step again to the 5 note. AS the key forces this, you get this chord.
The 5 Chord is always Minor in a Minor Key. In this case E Minor.
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
2
3
1
1
2
3
4
2
3
1
First Finger
2
Second Finger
3
Third Finger
4
Forth Finger
Open String
Mute String