Changing major chords to minor chords

To turn a major chord into minor, replace its major third (3) with a minor third (m3).

E minor, A minor and D minor (Em, Am, Dm)

If the 3rd appears multiple times in the shape, lower every 3rd by one fret (= half‑step).

Use the slider to morph E major into E minor. Also, switch on the interval labels and watch the shape change.

The major third lies 4 half‑steps (= 2 whole steps) above the root.
The minor third lies 3 half‑steps (= 1 whole + 1 half step) above the root.

In the same way the A major chord becomes A minor...

Every fret on the guitar represents a half‑step (semitone).

...and D major becomes D minor.

Major chords consist of root (1), major third (3) and fifth (5)
Minor chords consist of root (1), minor third (m3) and fifth (5)

C minor and G minor (Cm, Gm)

It's not that easy to change a C major or G major chord into a minor chord like before, because one of the thirds is always located on an open string (lesson "basic major chords"). So we have to play this completely different...

Now we use barre chords. The index finger simulates the guitar’s nut (or a capo) by pressing several strings at once.

As a barre chord, G is essentially an E shape moved up 3 frets to G.

Starting from the G major barre chord, change all major 3rds (3) to minor 3rds (m3) to get G minor.

The C major barre chord is essentially an A shape moved up 3 frets to C.

If fretting the D, G and B string with the ring finger is tough (and the high E gets muted), try middle (D), ring (G) and pinky (B)—like the easy A major chord (see above).

Chord symbols for minor chords

  • A small m after the root indicates “minor”, e.g., Em, Am, Cm, C#m, Bm, Bbm, etc.
  • Instead of m you’ll often find a minus sign, e.g., E-, A-, C-, C#-, B-, Bb-, etc.
  • Unusual (for good reasons) in modern styles like pop, rock, or jazz—but still seen in some notations: using lowercase letters for minor chords, e.g., e, a, c, c#, b, bb, etc.