Theory

The minor Key

Just like the major key, the minor key has its chords, scales, and modes. But what exactly changes in the minor key compared to the major…

1 min read

The minor Key

Just like the major key, the minor key has its chords, scales, and modes. But what exactly changes in the minor key compared to the major key?

In the minor key, we use the exact same chords, scales, and modes as in the major key, but starting from the 6th degree (relative to the major key).

The major scale on the guitar looks like this:

Guitar diagram – The minor Key

The minor scale, starting from the 6th note of the major scale, looks like this:

Guitar diagram – The minor Key

If we now want to start again with the root note (tonic), it would look like this:

Guitar diagram – The minor Key

Of course, this scale can be moved back and forth or the root note can be changed. The important thing, as always, is that the distances between the notes (intervals) remain the same.

Guitar diagram – The minor Key

Practical Example

The practical example with the scales over the corresponding chords can be adopted 1:1 from the major scale.

Since the scales over the chords remain exactly the same, it doesn’t matter where you start.

Guitar diagram – The minor Key

Cheatsheet

You can download a cheatsheet with the notes, chords, and diagrams here.

Links in this post 6

Scales, Chords and Arpeggios for Guitar (Complete Guide) The Harmonic minor Key The Major Key The Melodic minor Key The Seven Modes In Major on Guitar What is the difference between major and minor?

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