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.

Each key below opens the full reference entry — keyboard diagram, audio, inversions, fingerings, and notation.

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.