How to Construct a Minor Chord in Less Than 10 Minutes

Knowing how to build minor chords is just as important as knowing how to build major chords.  People spend years at college learning how to master skills such as building minor chords, but you don’t have to!  If you have already learned how to build major chords, this lesson will be a breeze for you.  The formula for building minor chords is strikingly similar to the formula used for major chords.  Building minor chords will require a simple knowledge of notes and basic mathematics. If you possess those skills, then it’s time to learn how to build minor chords in less than 10 minutes.

All minor chords contain 3 notes; no more and no less.  The lowest note is called the root, the middle note is called the third, and the highest note is called the fifth.  While the names of the notes will change depending on which note you start on, the distance between the notes will never change.  In order to build a minor chord, just pick a note to start on and measure the distance of the other two notes using the following formula...

(Root)  ---- 3 half steps up-->  (Third)  ---- 4 half steps up ----> (Fifth)

For this example, I’ll pick the note E.  I would start on the note E, and count up 3 half steps:  One (F), two (F#), and three (G).  I landed on G, which make that the middle note in the chord (more commonly called the third).  Next, I would begin on G (my third) and count up 4 half steps to discover my fifth:  One (G#), two (A), three (Bb), and four (B).  I landed on B, which is the last and highest note in the chord (the fifth).

The three notes I ended up with are E, G, and B.  I would call this an E minor chord because all minor chords are named after the root note they start on.  Play the notes E, G, and B at the same time, and you will sound an E major chord.

No matter which note you decide to start on, the formula will never change.  Try building a minor chord starting on a different note, and remember to double check your work!