Minor triad
The minor triad consists of a root, a minor third and a perfect fifth. A single semitone in the middle separates it from the major triad. It sounds darker, softer and more thoughtful.
- Structure
- minor third + major third
- Semitones
- 3 + 4
- Fifth
- perfect, 7 semitones
- Symbol
- Cm or Cmin
- Counterpart
- major triad
The smallest difference
A C major triad consists of C, E and G, a C minor triad of C, E♭ and G. Two of three notes are identical, the third is shifted by a semitone. That is the smallest difference the system offers at all, and it decides whether the chord is felt as radiant or shaded. The fifth stays perfect and gives the chord a stable sound.
The C minor triad
Root, minor third, perfect fifth. The note that lies a semitone lower than in the C major triad is marked.
Minor in a key
In a minor key the degrees i, iv and, in natural minor, v carry minor triads: in A minor Am, Dm and Em. For an effective ending the dominant is raised to the major triad E. The third is the switch: among the guitar shapes an open E major chord becomes E minor by lifting a finger. How the third is to be understood physically is explained in the article Major and minor: the third as a switch. It also says that “minor is sad” is a rule of thumb, not a rule: a great deal of dance music is in minor.
Common mistakes
- Swapping the thirds: In minor the minor third lies at the bottom.
- Confusing minor with diminished: Diminished has a diminished fifth and two minor thirds.
- Doubling the third: In four-part writing it is, as a rule, not doubled.
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Related terms
TriadMajor triadMinorMinor thirdRootChordDiatonic chordA minorTonic
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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