Harmonium Lessons - Chords: Part III: Minor chords

A chord is a combination of three (or more) notes played at the same time. All chords are formed by playing simultaneously three or more notes, according to definite rules.

PLEASE REVISE Harmonium Lesson 2: The Basics. Keep the keyboard diagram in view. Please remember, once again, that any key can become a Sa; but we have assumed the first white key to be the Sa (S), for convenience and convention, simplicity and uniformity.

Chord Type II: Minor Chords. Symbol L. A minor chord is formed when we simultaneously play three notes S-g-P or an equivalent combination. Let me explain by assigning key numbers, calling Sa (S) as key number 1.

Note: S key number: 1

r .......... 2

R .......... 3

g .......... 4

G .......... 5

m .......... 6

M .......... 7

P .......... 8

d .......... 9

D .......... 10

n .......... 11

N .......... 12

S' .......... 13

r' .......... 14

R' .......... 15

g' .......... 16

G' .......... 17

m' .......... 18

M' .......... 19

P' .......... 20

So, to play the minor chord S-g-P, you will play key numbers 1-4-8. This minor chord is called S minor. Using the symbol 'L' for a minor chord, S major chord will be written as SL.

Similarly, the minor chord "rL" will be formed of the following notes (to be played all at a time): r-G-d. How can we know that? Like this: Now, r is key number 2. So the new set of three keys [in the relative distance 1-4-8] will be 2-5-9. The keys 2-5-9 represent the notes r-G-d. Here is the complete list of the minor chords we will use:

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S minor chord, symbol SL, key# 1-4-8, notes S-g-P

r minor chord, symbol rL, key# 2-5-9, notes r-G-d

R minor chord, symbol RL, key# 3-6-10, notes R-m-D

g minor chord, symbol gL, key# 4-7-11, notes g-M-n

G minor chord, symbol GL, key# 5-8-12, notes G-P-N

m minor chord, symbol mL, key# 6-9-13, notes m-d-S'

M minor chord, symbol ML, key# 7-10-14, notes M-D-r'

P minor chord, symbol PL, key# 8-11-15, notes P-n-R'

d minor chord, symbol dL, key# 9-12-16, notes d-N-g'

D minor chord, symbol DL, key# 10-13-17, notes D-S'-G'

n minor chord, symbol nL, key# 11-14-18, notes n-r'-m'

N minor chord, symbol NL, key# 12-15-19, notes N-R'-M'

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Similar sets of notes will apply in all the three octaves. So much for the minor Chords.

Please note:

WHATERVER KEY IS YOUR Sa, the minor keys will retain their names (like, for example, R minor chord); will retain their symbols (like, for example, RL); will retain their key# (like, for example, 3-6-10); will retain their notes combination (like, for example, R-m-D).

Harmonium Lessons: Learning chords for songs

Harmonium (keyboard) and guitar are among the most popular instruments for solo performance as well as for accompaniement. They can be used to play/accompany melody lines of a song, or to play chords appropriate to the song part.

1. First of all, learn the chords given in the online harmonium lessons. There are hundreds of chords, but you need to learn only those given in the harmonium lessons.

2. The same chords can be played on the guitar, but you will have to learn elementary guitar playing. For this, you may use a good elementary book, or, better still, take a few lessons.

3. Thoroughly know the song you want to play/accompany.

4. Break down the song into several very small phrases. Try the various chords you have learnt, with each small segment of the song line: check which chord 'fits' well. You can partly mechanise this process by first playing the small segment of the song on the keyboard. Then remember that, one of the notes of the suitable chord uses at least one of the notes you have used to play the song segment earlier. The following example will make this point very clear.

Let us take the first segment of the famous Mukesh song "meraa jootaa hai jaapaani" -- who has not heard this? On the keyboard, you will play like:

C Db F F F E F F

me raa joo taa hai jaa paa n

By trial and error (or, intuitionally) you will find that the m minor chord, symbol mL, key# 6-9-13, notes m-d-S' sounds very appropriate, to accompany that part of the song. (see Harmonium Lessons - Chords: Part III: Minor chords). This is called F minor [F-Ab-C'] chord.

Instead of key# 6-9-13, notes m-d-S', we can use key# 1-6-9, notes S-m-d. This will be C-F-Ab.

5. Practice, practice, practice, using different songs, different chords. If you prefer, initially you may work only on the first lines of of different songs of your choice. This is usually the most familiar part in each song. Hence, it is the easiest to work with.

6. Additionally, plan to work in a small group of serious learners. This helps boost your mood for greater input and better output.

7. Note down the song parts and their related chords. In a short time, you will have an excellent collection.