Chord type
Minor Chords on Piano
The minor chord is the second most important chord in music, a three-note triad built from the root, minor third, and perfect fifth. It has a dark, melancholic, and emotional sound that provides contrast to the brightness of major chords.
Pick a key to hear and see it below. Each key opens a full reference entry with a keyboard diagram, audio, inversions, fingerings, and notation.
Featured key
C Minor Chord
Notes: C - E♭ - G
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Open the full C Minor Chord reference ›Formula: Root – Minor 3rd – Perfect 5th
Intervals: 3 semitones + 4 semitones (from root)
Scale degrees: 1–♭3–5
Sound: Dark, melancholic, emotional, expressive
Symbol: Lowercase m after the letter (Cm, Dm, Em etc.)
Major vs Minor: The only difference is the third: major chords have a major third (4 semitones from root), minor chords have a minor third (3 semitones). That one semitone changes the entire emotional character from bright and happy to dark and melancholic.
Minor Chord in All 18 Keys
All 18 spellings, ♯ and ♭ keys listed separately.
Select any key to see notes, the interactive keyboard, inversions, fingering, and practice tips.
C Minor ChordNotes: C – E♭ – GC♯ Minor ChordNotes: C♯ – E – G♯D♭ Minor ChordNotes: D♭ – F♭ – A♭D Minor ChordNotes: D – F – AD♯ Minor ChordNotes: D♯ – F♯ – A♯E♭ Minor ChordNotes: E♭ – G♭ – B♭E Minor ChordNotes: E – G – BF Minor ChordNotes: F – A♭ – CF♯ Minor ChordNotes: F♯ – A – C♯G♭ Minor ChordNotes: G♭ – B♭♭ – D♭G Minor ChordNotes: G – B♭ – DG♯ Minor ChordNotes: G♯ – B – D♯A♭ Minor ChordNotes: A♭ – C♭ – E♭A Minor ChordNotes: A – C – EA♯ Minor ChordNotes: A♯ – C♯ – E♯B♭ Minor ChordNotes: B♭ – D♭ – FB Minor ChordNotes: B – D – F♯C♭ Minor ChordNotes: C♭ – E♭♭ – G♭