36. Minor Keys

1. Unlocking a New World of Emotion

Ever wonder how your favorite rock songs get that serious, mysterious, or coolly ominous vibe? The secret isn't just distortion or attitude—it's the power of minor keys.

While major keys give you bright, happy sounds, minor keys unlock the entire other half of the emotional spectrum. They can be sad, serious, dramatic, or intense. Mastering them is essential for any songwriter who wants to control the precise feeling of their music.

2. The Minor Key Difference: A New "Home Base"

The fundamental difference between a major key and a minor key is its emotional center, or "home base" chord.

• In a major key, your home base is a major chord (the I chord).
• In a minor key, your home base is a minor chord (the i chord).

This simple shift from a major to a minor "home base" is what gives a minor key its distinct character and changes the entire mood of a song.

3. The Relative Minor Shortcut

Here's the good news: you don't need to learn a whole new set of rules to find the chords in a minor key. Every minor key is directly related to a major key—they share the exact same notes and chords. This is called the relative minor.

For example, E minor is the relative minor of G major.

This means the scales and diatonic chords are identical. The only thing that changes is which chord feels like "home."

• G Major Diatonic Chords: G (I), Am (ii), Bm (iii), C (IV), D (V), Em (vi), F#dim (vii°)
• E Minor Diatonic Chords (Natural Minor): Em (i), F#dim (ii°), G (III), Am (iv), Bm (v), C (VI), D (VII)

Notice how the chords are the same, but their numerical functions have shifted because our "home base" moved from G to Em.

4. Your Minor Key Palette: The Diatonic Chords in E minor

Let's break down the tools you get when you're writing in the key of E minor. Think of these chords as your new emotional palette:

• Em (i): The "home" chord. This is your point of rest and resolution, establishing the key's serious or moody feel.
• F#dim (ii°): An unstable chord that builds tension and naturally wants to lead somewhere else.
• G (III): A major chord that adds a bit of brightness or color.
• Am (iv): A minor chord that provides movement away from your home base.
• Bm (v): This chord leads back to the Em (i) chord, but its pull is relatively weak in the natural minor.
• C (VI): A major chord that offers bright contrast.
• D (VII): A major chord that creates a strong pull back to your home base of Em.

You can also use the 7th chord variations for a richer sound (Em7, Gmaj7, Am7, D7, etc.).

5. A Pro-Tip for a Stronger Resolution

While the standard Bm (v) chord works to lead back home, many professional songs use a trick to create a more powerful pull. They borrow a B7 (V7) chord from other minor scales (like the harmonic minor).

Using a dominant 7th chord for your V chord is a classic move that adds significant tension and makes your resolution to the i chord sound more final and definitive.

6. Your Assignment: Feel the Difference

Put this theory into practice. Play the following two progressions over and over. They use almost the exact same chords, but notice how the emotional center changes completely.

1. G Major Progression (Bright/Resolved): G−C−D−G
2. E minor Progression (Moody/Serious): Em−C−D−Em

Get comfortable with the sound and feel of a minor key. In the next chapter, we'll use this knowledge to write a professional-level song.