A Minor Chord

Hot for Chords

Sorry I didn’t get this out
on Wednesday like I normally do.

Today we are going to
talk about minor chords.

Specifically the A minor chord.

First what makes a minor chord?

Well, earlier we spoke about major
chords.

If you remember Major chords, and
I am referring to simple 3 note
triads, are made up from the
1st, 3rd and 5th note of the Major
scale.

The Major chord used the Major 3rd.

The Major 3rd is 4 frets away from
the root or 1 note of the scale.

A Minor chord uses the minor 3rd.

the Minor third is 3 frets from
the root or 1 note of the scale.

So simply the Minor chord
is the 1st Minor 3rd and 5th
note of the scale.

In fact if we use the Minor
third in the scale then it
is a Minor scale.

So back to the A minor chord.

I am choosing A minor because
it is a very common and very
easy to play chord.

Lets start with what notes are in
the A minor chord.

the 1 or root is A (duh!)
the Minor 3rd is C
and the 5th is   E

So they spell Ace.

Ok now how do we make
an A minor chord.

Well here are a couple of
different forms you can use:

but first a word from our
sponsor….

The first form is the Open A minor.

This is open because the root note
is the Open A string.

Here is the Tab:

E|–0–  Open
B|–1–  first finger
G|–2–  third finger
D|–2–  second finger
A|–0–  Open
E|—–

Here is a picture:

Another form can be played
at the 5th Fret.

Here is the Tab

E|–5– Bar 1st finger
B|–5– Bar 1st finger
G|–5– Bar 1st finger
D|–7– 4th Finger
A|–7– 3rd Finger
E|–5– Bar 1st finger

This form is Just like a
power chord with the 4th
finger added.

Here is a progression that
is easy to play with a couple
of the chords we have covered.

Am  E   E7  Am
Am  C   E7  Am

The A minor chord forms
can be used to play
minor chords in any key.

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Keep on pickin,

Andrew

P.S. Next week we will delve
into the inversions of both the
major and  minor chords

Here is a cool site:

http://www.blues-lesson.com