Lecture Notes: Difference Between Major and Minor Chords

Introduction

• Major and minor chords often associated with emotional qualities: "happy" for major and "sad" for minor.
• Explanation aimed to go beyond elementary knowledge with a technical perspective.

What Makes a Chord Minor or Major?

• Core difference: the 3rd note in a scale.
  • Major chord: Includes 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the major scale.
  • Minor chord: Includes 1st, flattened (lowered) 3rd, and 5th notes of the major scale.
• Major scale always has a major third; minor scale has a flattened third.
• Understanding patterns helps in identifying and playing scales and chords.

Constructing Major and Minor Chords & Scales

• Scale consists of 7 notes (8th note is the octave):
  • Notes are sequenced from root note, each following a specific step pattern.
• Example: A Major Scale → Notes: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A
  • Sounds cheerful, bright.
• Minor scale involves flattening the 3rd note.
  • A Natural Minor Scale → Notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A
  • Sounds darker, somber.
• Note: Only the 3rd note change influences major/minor distinction.

Relative Minor vs Major Scales

• Relative minor scale shares notes with a major scale but arranged differently.
  • Example: A Minor (ABCDEFGA) and C Major (CDEFGABC) share same notes.
• Relative minors sound different due to note order.
  • C Major is bright; A Minor is darker.
• Finding Relative Minor:
  • The 6th interval of a major scale or 3rd interval of a minor scale.

Major and Minor Song Examples

• Shout by The Isley Brothers: Minor chord presence despite upbeat tone.
• Celebration by Kool and the Gang: Uses minor chords without dark feel.
• Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song by B.J. Thomas: Mostly major chords despite sad theme.
• Where Is My Mind by Pixies: Alternates between major and minor chords for mood.
• California Girls by The Beach Boys: Mix of major/minor chords, influential in song's complexity.

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