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A minor triad contains a root, minor third and perfect fifth: 0, 3 and 7 semitones from the root. C minor is C–E♭–G; A minor is A–C–E. The minor third is the note that distinguishes it from a major triad.
Hear the examples.
Choose an example, then press Play. Compare the notes as well as the sound.
C major
The major third is E. Keep C and G in place when comparing major with minor.
These are not Captain Plugins audio.Ready to play
Build a minor triad from any note
Choose A and count three semitones upward to C, then four more to E. The resulting A–C–E is A minor. Starting on D gives D–F–A; starting on F♯ gives F♯–A–C♯. Include the black keys when counting, and count the starting root as zero.
To change a major triad into its parallel minor chord, lower only its third by a semitone. A–C♯–E becomes A–C–E. Keep the root and fifth unchanged so you can hear exactly what that single note does.
A minor chord is not the same as a minor key
A minor chord can appear in a major-key song. In C major, Am is the chord on the sixth scale degree. Conversely, A minor includes major chords such as C, F and G. You cannot identify a song’s key by counting how many of its chords are minor.
Listen for the tonal centre: the note or chord that feels like home across the phrase. C major and A natural minor share their notes, but their melodies, bass lines and points of rest can make them behave very differently.
Use inversions to keep the movement small
A–C–E is root-position A minor. C–E–A is first inversion; E–A–C is second inversion. All three contain the same chord tones. Try moving from C–E–G to C–E–A: two notes stay in place and only G moves.
The bass instrument still matters. A low A underneath a C–E–A keyboard voicing makes the overall harmony feel rooted on A. Judge the full arrangement rather than naming an inversion from one instrument in isolation.
Add colour without losing the minor third
Am7 adds G to A–C–E. Am9 adds a ninth, B, to that seventh chord. These are extensions, not inversions. Am6 is A–C–E–F♯: in chord-symbol notation, the 6 refers to a major sixth above the root, even though the triad is minor.
Start with the triad before adding these notes. A busy vocal may leave little room for an extension. If the part feels crowded, remove a note, move the voicing upward, or shorten its length before changing the whole progression.
Keep the notes in view.
| Chord | Notes | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Am | A · C · E | Minor triad |
| A | A · C♯ · E | Raised third |
| Am7 | A · C · E · G | Adds minor seventh |
| Am6 | A · C · E · F♯ | Adds major sixth |
| Am9 | A · C · E · G · B | Adds seventh and ninth |
Try it in Captain Chords.
Set the key to A minor and start with Am–F–C–G. Keep the rhythm steady while you compare root-position chords with voicings that keep shared notes in place.
See the current editing workflow.
The Captain Plugins 8 update video shows the canvas and selection-based editing.
Common questions
Are minor chords always sad?
No. Their effect depends on tempo, rhythm, timbre, melody and harmonic context. A minor chord can be part of energetic or uplifting music.
Can I use minor chords in a major key?
Yes. The diatonic triads on the second, third and sixth degrees of a major scale are minor.
What does the m in Am mean?
It means minor. The A names the root, and m tells you to use a minor third. A without an added quality symbol normally means A major.
Lesson and examples updated by Mixed In Key.