Playing and using minor chords
Minor chords can be used for a variety of reasons. But for the most part, they express a feeling more intimate sounding than the major chord. I tend to gravitate towards the use of minor chords. Some of the feelings I try to get across though this type of chord are sadness, reflectiveness, mystery, longing, desire, and others.
The structure of the chord is also simple.
The structure of the chord is also simple.
The minor chord formula:
1 - b3 - 5
So the root is 1, it tells you what chord letter to assign like A, B, C, D , E, F or G.
The 3 is a minor third above that:
A = C
A = C
B = D
C = Eb
D = F
E = G
F = Ab
G = Bb
And the 5 is a perfect fifth above 1:
A = E
B = F#
C = G
D = A
E = B
F = C
G = D
Minor chord guitar charts
The chart below shows the pattern for all of the tonics (1) - the minor 3rds and the 5ths on the fretboard.
If you can find the tonic you can find the distance from the minor 3rd and 5th. So any combination of these 3 notes on the fretboard creates a minor chord for that tonic. Look at the chart and try to figure out as many possible fingerings for a minor chord as you can. If you look at the chord charts above, you see them in the chart below.
