Getting Started with Minor
We have now covered major diatonic chords, and you should have acquired a certain amount of the theory for writing songs with a bright mood.
Starting this time, we move on to minor.
Let's take on writing songs with a dark or cool mood, and moving back and forth between major and minor.
To begin with, we cover minor diatonic chords as triads.
Even if you feel minor seems difficult, reading to the end of this lesson should put you a little more at ease.
The following knowledge is required, so we recommend reviewing it.
It will also be easier to follow if you have mastered the process of building major diatonic chords.
Diatonic chords are built by stacking notes from the underlying diatonic scale, skipping one note each time (in thirds).
(Natural) Minor Diatonic Chords as Triads
There are actually three types of minor, but let's start with the natural minor scale, which has already appeared.
We will check it in the key of A minor, which is easy to follow because it uses only white keys.
First, let's check the triad diatonic chords that can basically be used in a natural minor key.
(From here on, natural minor is written as "minor.")
How Minor Diatonic Chords Are Formed
The procedure for building diatonic chords is the same as for major.
First, prepare the A minor scale.
On the first note, "A," stack two notes to the right, skipping one note each time.
In this case, they are "C" and "E."
In a DAW, copying is a good idea.
This gives you an A minor chord.
Repeat the same process for B, D, F and so on.
Then, at the fifth note, E, there is no top note left to stack.
Until you get used to it, it's easier if you also program the second octave of the A minor scale.
Once you've done this up to G, let's check the completed group of triads.
These are the triad diatonic chords of A minor. If you can't tell what chords they are right away, try making A the root of all the chords.
*Move each chord so that its lowest note is A.
The leftmost chord is Am, so you can see at a glance whether each chord is minor, diminished (triad) or major.
Put them back and look at the structure of the diatonic chords.
From left to right, they follow the order
minor / diminished (triad) / major / minor / minor / major / major
.
As with major, the order of this structure doesn't change in other minor keys.
Example: Diatonic chords of C minor
Final Thoughts
Some of you may have already noticed, but C major and A minor are relative keys.
So the notes in their scales are the same, only in a different order.
Therefore, the resulting diatonic chords are also the same, only in a different order.
The roles of the chords change, but at this point you don't need to learn any new chords.
So rest assured and continue.
Next time, let's learn minor diatonic chords as four-note chords.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Are minor diatonic chords built differently from major?
No, the basic method is the same. The process of stacking notes in thirds, skipping one note each time, from the diatonic scale (in this case the natural minor scale) is the same as for major.
Q2. What order do the diatonic chords of A minor follow?
From left to right, the structure is "minor / diminished (triad) / major / minor / minor / major / major." This order is the same in other minor keys.
Q3. What is the relationship between C major and A minor?
They are relative keys, and they contain the same notes, only in a different order. So their diatonic chords are also the same chords, only in a different order.
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