In this part of our series on beginner ukulele chords we'll be looking at spicing up chord progressions through the use of minor chords.
To that end, we'll be using this article to learn our first minor chord to add to the major chords we've looked at already.
Minor Chords
Minor chords are most recognizable as being 'sad' chords. Whereas major chords tend to be associated with a 'happy sound'.
To change a chord from being major to being minor takes just one note: the third.
In a major chord, one of the notes that makes up the chord is the note four frets higher than the root note. For example, in a C chord the third note is an E and the C chord contains an E.
The only difference with a minor chord is that the third note is only three frets over the root (that is one fret lower than in the major chord). So if the root is A, the minor third will be three frets higher: C.
Fretting the A Minor Chord
The big advantage of the A minor chords is that it only takes one finger to play it.
You play an A minor chord by putting your middle finger on the G string (the one closest to your head) at the second fret. All the other strings are played open.
When you first play the A minor chord you might find that the underside of your middle finger is catching on the C string and stopping it sounding. Be really careful this doesn't happen as it is the C note that gives the chord its minor sound.
You'll often see the A minor chord referred to as Am for short.
A minor is known as the relative minor of C. So if you wanted to write a chord progression in the key of Am you could use all the chords that we have discussed so far in this series with that progression and they will work together and sound good.
To that end, we'll be using this article to learn our first minor chord to add to the major chords we've looked at already.
Minor Chords
Minor chords are most recognizable as being 'sad' chords. Whereas major chords tend to be associated with a 'happy sound'.
To change a chord from being major to being minor takes just one note: the third.
In a major chord, one of the notes that makes up the chord is the note four frets higher than the root note. For example, in a C chord the third note is an E and the C chord contains an E.
The only difference with a minor chord is that the third note is only three frets over the root (that is one fret lower than in the major chord). So if the root is A, the minor third will be three frets higher: C.
Fretting the A Minor Chord
The big advantage of the A minor chords is that it only takes one finger to play it.
You play an A minor chord by putting your middle finger on the G string (the one closest to your head) at the second fret. All the other strings are played open.
When you first play the A minor chord you might find that the underside of your middle finger is catching on the C string and stopping it sounding. Be really careful this doesn't happen as it is the C note that gives the chord its minor sound.
You'll often see the A minor chord referred to as Am for short.
A minor is known as the relative minor of C. So if you wanted to write a chord progression in the key of Am you could use all the chords that we have discussed so far in this series with that progression and they will work together and sound good.
About the Author:
Al Wood talks about the ukulele at his blog where you can get additional expert know how on ukulele music.
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