The three most common minor chord progressions are:
i - iv - V - i
i - VI - III - VII - i
i - VII - iv - V - i
It’s important to know how to find chords within a minor scale so that you have a number of options when it comes time to create your own song or if you simply want to know how your favorite hits have come together.
In this beginner guitar lesson we will take a in-depth look at these specific minor chord progressions, minor chords, how to build them and how to use them in your playing.
How to Find Chords in a Minor Key
In order to find the guitar chords within a minor scale, we’ll use the concept of Roman numerals and how they determine which chord is a major or minor in the relevant key.
The relevant chords in a minor key are:
i - ii(dim) - III - iv - V - VI - VII
This pattern is simply working up the minor scale and applying chords to the corresponding scale degrees.
The lowercase numerals indicates a minor chord, while the capitalized numerals are major chords.
Note: the second chord within this formula is a diminished chord.
Let’s take this formula and apply it to the key of A. Remember the A minor scale is made up of these notes:
A - B - C - D - E - F - G
If you need to pause and check out a scale finder, now would be a great time to do that.
Since we know that these are the notes of the A minor scale, we can take these notes and plug them into the chord qualities from before:
i - ii(dim) - III - iv - V - VI - VII
Am - Bdim - C - Dm - E - F - G
Here's another example - Let's try G.
First, let's figure out the G minor scale:
G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F
Now let's apply these scale degrees to our minor chord qualities:
i - ii(dim) - III - iv - V - VI - VII
Gm - Adim - Bb - Cm - D - Eb - F
It can be as simple as plug-and-play.
Just as long as you have a solid understanding of your minor scales.
But take your time with this, it won't come easy.
You might need to think your way through each chord progression, and that's totally alright!
Keep a guitar chords chart handy while working on these progressions.
Now that we know how to find chords in a minor key, let’s take a look at some really common minor chord progressions.
You'll probably recognize these progressions from some of your favorite songs.
3 Common Minor Chord Progressions
First up is the i - iv - V - i (1 - 4 - 5 - 1).
Remember, the roman numerals are the corresponding scale degrees in the key.
This progression makes up most blues and rock songs.
It's great because it outlines the entire tonality of the key in three chords - the 1 being the 'home/resolution,' the 5 being the 'away/question,' and the 4 being the path between the two.
Most other chord progressions can be related to this one foundationally.
Here we've outlined this classic progression in three different keys:
i - iv - V - i
A minor: Am - Dm - E - Am
D minor: Dm - Gm - A - Dm
Next up we have the i - VI - III - VII - i (1 - 6 - 3 - 7 - 1).
Another massively famous chord progression you need to know.
We've outlined how to play this progression in a few different keys:
i - VI - III - VII - i
C minor: Cm - A - E - B - A
E minor: Em - C - G - D - Em
A minor: Am - F - C - G - Am
The third progression we'll talk about today is a little more emotional - i - VII - iv - V - i (1 - 7 - 4 - 5 - 1).
If you are looking for something solumn, this is the progression for you.
Take a stab at these different keys and see how they make you feel:
i - VII - iv - V - i
D minor: Dm - Bb - Gm - C - Dm
G minor: Gm - Eb - Cm - F - Gm
B minor: Bm - G - Em - A - Bm
There you have it, a crash course into minor chords!
Feel free to play around with them and have fun.
You never know what you might come up with.
FAQ
What is a good minor chord progression?
A good minor chord progression often used in music is the i-iv-v (like Am-Dm-Em). It has a moody, emotional vibe that's perfect for lots of genres.
How do you make a minor chord progression on guitar?
To make a minor chord progression on guitar, start with your root minor chord (like Am), then move to the fourth and fifth chords in the same key (like Dm and Em). Experiment with different combinations to find what sounds best.
What is the 2-5-1 minor chord progression?
The 2-5-1 minor chord progression is iiø7-V7-i (like Bm7b5-E7-Am). It’s common in jazz and gives a smooth, resolved feeling.
What are the 4 chords of pop minor?
In a minor key, the four chords of pop are typically i-vi-III-VII (like Am-F-C-G). These chords create a catchy, memorable progression.
What are the four magic chords?
The four magic chords in pop music are I-V-vi-IV (like C-G-Am-F). They’re used in countless hit songs because they just sound so good together.
What is the most catchy chord progression?
The I-V-vi-IV progression (like C-G-Am-F) is probably the most catchy. It’s everywhere in pop music because it’s simple and instantly engaging.
What is the most happy chord progression?
The I-IV-V (like C-F-G) progression is super happy and upbeat. It's used in lots of rock and pop songs to create a feel-good vibe.
What is the best uplifting chord progression?
A great uplifting chord progression is I-V-vi-IV (like C-G-Am-F). It’s hopeful and energetic, making it perfect for feel-good anthems.
What is the saddest sounding chord progression?
The i-iv-i-V (like Am-Dm-Am-E) progression has a really sad, melancholic sound. It’s used in ballads and songs meant to tug at your heartstrings.
What is the most annoying chord on the guitar?
The B chord can be pretty annoying for beginners. It’s a barre chord that requires a lot of finger strength and precise positioning.
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