A Minor Piano Chord
Root
AMin 3rd
C5th
EE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
A
C
E
The Notes in an A Minor Chord
The Root
The root is the bottom note of the chord, the starting point to which the other notes relate. The root of an A Minor chord is A.
The Min 3rd
The minor third of an A Minor chord is C. The minor third is up three half-steps from the Root.
Finding C from A step by step:
- Start on: A
- Step 1: move up to Bb
- Step 2: move up to B
- Step 3: Land on C
Min 3rd
CRoot
A1
2
- Bb is a minor second above A.
- B is a major 2nd above A.
- C is a minor third above A.
The 5th
The fifth of an A Minor chord is E. The fifth is down five half-steps from the Root.
Finding E from A step by step:
- Start on: A
- Step 1: move down to G#
- Step 2: move down to G
- Step 3: move down to F#
- Step 4: move down to F
- Step 5: Land on E
5th
ERoot
A1
2
3
4
- G# is a minor second below A.
- G is a major 2nd below A.
- F# is a minor third below A.
- F is a major third below A.
- E is a fourth below A. The 5th is down a fourth? Confusing, right? The note E is down 5 half-steps from A, but up 7 half-steps from A:
5th
ERoot
A1
2
3
4
5
6
The Inversions of A Minor
Root Position
Root
AMin 3rd
C5th
EE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
A
C
E
1st Inversion
Min 3rd
C5th
ERoot
AE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C
E
A
2nd Inversion
5th
ERoot
AMin 3rd
CE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
E
A
C