7.2 · Chords of the Minor Key

The minor big three: i, iv, v

Minor has a big three too: i is home, iv is away, v is the pull back. All three are minor. Borrow harmonic minor's raised 7th, though, and v becomes V: a major chord with a real pull home.

Out and back, in the dark

The same two trips as in major, now from a minor home. Every stop is minor.

Borrow the pull

All-minor v comes home gently: the old, modal sound. Raise one note, the 7th, and V pulls home hard. Most minor songs use V.

The only difference is one semitone inside the fifth chord: G to G♯. That's harmonic minor doing its one job.

Stop on V

Stop on the pull chord and the phrase sounds unfinished, just like in major. Minor's V leans even harder.

Game · Soft v or hard V?

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One trip in a random minor key: i → iv → ? → i. Was the pull chord minor v or major V?

Listen first. Then answer.

Quiz

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The minor key's big three are…

Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson. A perfect run sticks: a later miss never undoes it.The bright side: III, VI, VII →