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A minor · no sharps or flats

Chords in A minor

A minor has no sharps or flats, and its notes are A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Its seven chords are Am, B°, C, Dm, Em, F and G; with sevenths, Am7, Bm7♭5, Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7 and G7. The dominant players actually use, E7, comes from harmonic minor, so all three minor scales are below.

Natural minor

The key signature's own notes. Its v is minor, so it has no leading tone.

Chords of A minor, Natural minor
iAmAm7TonicA C E G
ii°B°SubdominantB D F A
IIICCmaj7TonicC E G B
ivDmDm7SubdominantD F A C
vEmEm7DominantE G B D
VIFFmaj7TonicF A C E
VIIGG7DominantG B D F

Harmonic minor

The seventh raised a semitone, which makes V major and V7 a real dominant.

Chords of A minor, Harmonic minor
iAmAmMaj7Tonic
ii°B°SubdominantB D F A
III+C+Tonic
ivDmDm7SubdominantD F A C
VEE7Dominant
VIFFmaj7TonicF A C E
vii°Dominant

Melodic minor

The sixth and seventh both raised, as the melody climbs to the tonic.

Chords of A minor, Melodic minor
iAmAmMaj7Tonic
iiBmBm7Subdominant
III+C+Tonic
IVDD7Subdominant
VEE7Dominant
vi°Tonic
vii°Dominant

Hear where home is

Two short progressions in A minor. The last chord of each is the tonic, and the chord before it is what makes it sound like arriving.

Cadence

  1. Ami
  2. Dmiv
  3. E7V7
  4. Ami

Minor ii V i

  1. iiø7
  2. E7V7
  3. Am7i7

Common progressions in A minor

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