A minor chord is composed using a root/1st, minor 3rd and perfect 5th (or R/1-♭3-5) intervals played simultaneously. Generally written as Cmi, CMI or C-, it is good practice to simply use an upper case C and a lower case mi (Cmi) to represent it in writing.
In guitar, the intervals of a minor chord may not always be played in tonal order (root/1st, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, in this order) however the root note will always be the lowest tone (and most distinct) unless it is an inversion. For example: a Cmi chord played on the 8th fret using voicing #4 (barre chord) has a interval sequence of: root/1st, perfect 5th, root 1st(octave), minor 3rd, perfect 5th and root/1st(x2 octave) or R/1-5-1-♭3-5-1.
The tonality of a minor chord is consonant and resolved, though it is considerably "darker" than a major chord. It does not "lead away" from itself like the dominant seventh chord, or leave the listener with a sense of "suspense" like the minor seventh flat five chord.
Major, minor and diminished triads occur naturally in the harmonized major scale (triads), an augmented triad is simply a major triad with a raised fifth degree.
Minor chord profile
| Intervals | root/1st, minor 3rd, perfect 5th or R/1-♭3-5 |
|---|---|
| Stability | Consonant, resolved |
| Grouping class | Triad |
| Common names (examples in C) | Cmi, Cmin, CMIN, CMI, C− |
Chord shapes/voicings
Minor chord table
| Chord name | Root | Minor third | Perfect fifth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cmi | C | E♭ | G |
| C♯mi | C♯ | E | G♯ |
| D♭mi | D♭ | F♭ (E) | A♭ |
| Dmi | D | F | A |
| D♯mi | D♯ | F♯ | A♯ |
| E♭mi | E♭ | G♭ | B♭ |
| Emi | E | G | B |
| Fmi | F | A♭ | C |
| F♯mi | F♯ | A | C♯ |
| G♭mi | G♭ | B (A) |
D♭ |
| Gmi | G | B♭ | D |
| G♯mi | G♯ | B | D♯ |
| A♭mi | A♭ | C♭ (B) | E♭ |
| Ami | A | C | E |
| A♯mi | A♯ | C♯ | E♯ (F) |
| B♭mi | B♭ | D♭ | F |
| Bmi | B | D | F♯ |
Audio sample(s)
| C Minor chord voicing #2 |
|---|
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