Chords reference
Minor Triad
A minor triad is a three-note chord containing a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth.
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C Minor Chord
- Theory
- Chord
- Written root
- C
- Instrument
- 6-string Guitar
- Tuning
- E Standard
- Labels
- Notes
- Handedness
- Right handed
| String, low to high | Fret | Current label | Note | Degree | Interval | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 11 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 1 | 15 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 23 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 2 | 3 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 6 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 2 | 10 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 2 | 15 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 18 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 2 | 22 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 1 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 3 | 5 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 10 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 13 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 3 | 17 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 22 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 0 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 5 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 8 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 4 | 12 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 17 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 20 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 4 | 24 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 1 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 4 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 5 | 8 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 13 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 16 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 5 | 20 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 3 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 11 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 6 | 15 | G | G | 5 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 23 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
Overview
The minor triad is one of the four basic triad qualities. Inversions, doublings, and voicings may rearrange its notes, but its root-relative interval structure remains the same.
Construction
The authoritative definition supplies the three chord tones. The minor third establishes minor quality, while the perfect fifth completes the same stable outer frame found in a major triad.
Characteristics
Changing the third from major to minor transforms the chord's quality without moving its root or fifth. Musical effect still depends on voicing, register, timbre, dynamics, and harmonic context.
Applications
Minor triads function as tonic, predominant, dominant-related, or colour sonorities according to context. They also provide foundations for minor seventh chords, arpeggios, diatonic harmonisation, and fretboard study.