minor Triads

This lesson shows you the minor triads in notation and tab. Although written in the key of A minor, the qualities of the chords are consistent for every minor key. Triads are 3 tone chords built in intervals of 3rds (every other tone).

The Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic forms are shown.

Download pdf of Triads and 7ths

The voicings chosen above are all based on the A form in standard tuning (a fragment of a full form). They are all playable, and most can be played elsewhere (on different string sets).

The triads are in root position, meaning that the root of the chord is in the bass (the lowest tone in the chord). They are also in close (closed) position, meaning that the tones are stacked as close to each other as possible.

The Natural minor triads are the same chords as its relative Major (whatever the 3 chord is, in this example A minor's relative Major is C), just renumbered (the vi in Major becomes the i in minor). Formula paralleled to Major: R-2-3-4-5-6-7.

The Harmonic minor chords are the 'chords we build harmony from'. Yet, as this lesson shows, we can build harmony from all forms of minor scales, and any scale for that matter.

This form of the minor has a 'raised 7th' as compared to the Natural minor.
And its formula when paralleled to the Major: R-2-3-4-5-6-7. This raising of the 7th degree creates a gap of a minor 3rd (augmented 2nd), and leads us into...

The Melodic minor triads are the 'chords from the scale we made melody from'. We are harmonizing the Melodic version of the minor scale. One way we can look at this scale is that it 'fixes' the gap created by the 'raising of the 7th' in the Harmonic form.

This form of the minor has a 'raised 6th and 7th' as compared to the Natural minor.
And its formula when paralleled to the Major: R-2-3-4-5-6-7. It is simply the Major scale with a flat 3rd. Minor any and everything is ultimately a modification of the Major mode.

To Do

• Play the chord scales in order (1-2-3-4-5-6-7 respectively).
• Create progressions, i.e. i-iv-v-i.
• Play progressions in different forms, i.e. i-iv-v, i-iv-V, i-IV-V.
• Mix and Invent

The Complete minor Triads Set

• i = Am
• iio= Bo, ii = Bm
• III = C, III+ = C+ (C Augmented)
• iv = Dm, IV = D
• v = Em, V = E
• bVI = F, vio = F#o
• bVII = G, viio = G#dim (G#o)

The flat in front of the VI and VII chords are there because we've paralleled (compared) these chords to the Major diatonic set.

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