Guitar Triads Chart (Minor)
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We're going to study how to play every A minor chord on the guitar.
We're going to play these up and down the strings as well as across the strings for total of 12.
So the A minor chord is A, C, E in root position. The first inversion is the same notes in a different order: C, E, A. And the second inversion is E, A, C.
Let's play an example up the strings: A, C, E. C, E, A. E, A, C. So those are minor triads that's going up to different inversions on the same string set.
Now let's play across the strings: A, C, E. C, E, A. E, A, C. A, C, E. Like that. So you wanna practise each set in every way. you wanna go across the strings and then go to the next inversion, go across the string. You also wanna practise each set. going up and down the string. Practise in all of different ways.
So learn all of the voicings of the A minor chord. And remember that these shapes apply to every minor chord. So once you've done this in A minor you should try it with other chords, like D minor, for instance.
This page uses the A- chord as an example. The chord contains the notes A, C, and E.
After the major triad, the minor triad is the second most commonly-used harmony in music. It will be helpful to study every possible way to create this structure on the guitar. In addition to aiding us in visualizing the entire guitar fretboard, these mini-chords have practical uses and can be heard in both lead guitar and rhythm guitar.
Study the triads both up and down strings (string set 654: root, first inversion, and second inversion) as well as across strings: string set 654, root position; string set 543, first inversion; string set 432, second inversion; string set 321, root position.
Minor Triads – Strings 6, 5, 4
Root Position
First Inversion
Second Inversion
Minor Triads – Strings 5, 4, 3
Root Position
First Inversion
Second Inversion
Minor Triads – Strings 4, 3, 2
Root Position
First Inversion
Second Inversion
Minor Triads – Strings 3, 2, 1
Root Position
First Inversion
Second Inversion
Key Tasks
- Play through the chords and learn all of them.
- Practice the chords up and down one string set, as shown above (e.g., 654).
- Practice the chords across string sets, e.g., Root on 654, 1st inversion on 543, etc.
As the creator of Hub Guitar, Grey has compiled hundreds of guitar lessons, written several books, and filmed hundreds of video lessons. He teaches private lessons in his Boston studio, as well as via video chat through TakeLessons.