Minor chord: formula, notes and how to hear it
A minor chord is root, minor third and perfect fifth (0-3-7 semitones). Hear it, see it on every root, and train your ear to tell minor from major.
A minor chord (minor triad) is the root, the minor third (3 semitones up) and the perfect fifth (7 semitones up). A minor is A, C and E; C minor is C, E flat and G. It sounds darker and sadder than a major chord because its third is one semitone lower.
Listen to Cm
C E♭ G
What is the formula of a minor chord?
| Chord tone | Interval from the root | Semitones | In C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root | root | 0 | C |
| Third | minor third | 3 | E♭ |
| Fifth | perfect fifth | 7 | G |
Formula: 0-3-7 semitones. Written Cm, Cmin, C−.
What does a minor chord sound like?
Darker, softer, often described as sad or serious, but still stable: a song can end on a minor chord and sound finished.
How to recognise it by ear
- Alternate C major and C minor: only the middle note moves (E to E flat).
- In a major key, the chords on degrees 2, 3 and 6 are minor (ii, iii, vi): in C, that is D minor, E minor and A minor.
- Every minor chord contains a major third too, on top: A C E has C to E. The minor third at the bottom is what you hear first.
Quick test: is it a minor chord?
Four chords on different roots. Each is a minor chord or a chord it is often confused with.
Score: / 4 (your score updates as you answer)
Minor chords on all 12 roots
Spelled by letter from the formula, so thirds are always a letter apart (E♭, not D♯, in C minor).
| Chord | Notes | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Cm | C E♭ G | |
| D♭m | D♭ F♭ A♭ | |
| Dm | D F A | |
| E♭m | E♭ G♭ B♭ | |
| Em | E G B | |
| Fm | F A♭ C | |
| F♯m | F♯ A C♯ | |
| Gm | G B♭ D | |
| A♭m | A♭ C♭ E♭ | |
| Am | A C E | |
| B♭m | B♭ D♭ F | |
| Bm | B D F♯ |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a minor chord?
The root, the minor third and the perfect fifth: degrees 1, flat 3 and 5. A minor is A C E, E minor is E G B, D minor is D F A, C minor is C E flat G.
What is the formula of a minor chord in semitones?
0, 3, 7: a minor third (3 semitones) at the bottom, then a major third (4 semitones) on top.
Why do minor chords sound sad?
Mostly by learned association: listeners raised on Western music come to link minor harmony with sad or serious moods during childhood. Context matters too (a fast minor tune can sound energetic), and the link is not universal across cultures.
How is a minor chord written?
With a lowercase m after the root (Am), sometimes "min" (Amin) or a minus sign (A−). In Roman numerals it is lowercase: vi.