Play the minor chord on guitar
The minor chord is a triad composed of a root, a minor third and a perfect fifth. It differs from the major chord by its third lowered by a semitone, creating a darker sound.
Chord composition
| I | ♭III | V |
| Root | Minor third | Perfect fifth |
| 0 | 3 | 7 |
Formula 1 - ♭3 - 5
Theory
The minor chord (notated m or min) is built by stacking a minor third (3 semitones) followed by a major third (4 semitones). The interval between the root and the fifth remains a perfect fifth (7 semitones). C minor = C-E♭-G, D minor = D-F-A.
Play the minor chord on the guitar
Styles
Minor chord construction
Minor chord has 1 - ♭3 - 5 formula, characterized by minor third at 3 semitones (instead of 4 for major). This one-semitone difference radically transforms emotional color.
Example A minor: A - C - E. A-C interval (minor third) + C-E (major third) creates inverse stacking of major chord.
Acoustically, frequency ratio (10:12:15) is more complex, explaining sound perceived as "dark", "melancholic" or "introspective".
Learning
Week 1 - Comparative approach
- First learn corresponding major chord (e.g., C major)
- Identify which note goes down semitone to get minor
- Major ↔ minor alternation 20 times
- Listen to sound color difference
Week 2-3 - Harmonic progression
- Master Am - Dm - Em (i - iv - v in A minor)
- Add relative major: Am - F - C - G
- Metronome 60 BPM, increase gradually
Week 4+ - Musical application
- Song in minor key (e.g., "House of the Rising Sun")
- Analyze progression
- Practice slowly then increase tempo
How to play minor
Essential open positions
Comparative technique
Revealing exercise: play C major then C minor alternately. Only one finger changes (the third), but emotional effect is radical.
Barre positions
Em shape (index barres, ring + pinky strings 5-4) and Am shape (partial barre 5 strings).