Minor Chord Progressions: How to Write Sad & Emotional Music
The Power of the Minor Key
While major keys sound happy and stable, minor keys are the language of emotion. Whether it's the epic drama of Hans Zimmer, the melancholy of Adele, or the aggression of Trap music, minor progressions are essential for modern songwriting.
Writing in minor isn't just about using minor chords. It's about how you navigate the Natural Minor (Aeolian) and Harmonic Minor scales to create tension.
1. The Epic Journey (i - VI - VII)
This is the sound of adventure. Used in everything from "All Along the Watchtower" to the Pirates of the Caribbean theme.
The Formula (Key of A Minor)
Am (i) → F (VI) → G (VII)
Why it works: The movement from the VI to the VII builds upwards momentum. It feels like climbing a mountain. Because the VII chord (G Major) is the Dominant of the relative major key (C), it creates a soaring, heroic feeling even though the root is minor.
2. The Pop/Rock Minor Ballad (i - VI - III - VII)
Often called the "Axis of Awesome" minor variation. You've heard this in "Numb" by Linkin Park and "Zombie" by The Cranberries.
The Formula (Key of A Minor)
Am (i) → F (VI) → C (III) → G (VII)
This progression is circular and hypnotic. It touches on the relative Major (C) in the middle, giving a brief glimpse of hope (III chord) before falling back to the unresolved VII and returning to the sad i.
Try playing this: Use our Chord Generator, set the key to 'A', and see how these chords flow together.
3. The Harmonic Minor Turnaround (i - iv - V7)
This is the classic "Classial" or "Latin" minor sound. It uses the Harmonic Minor scale, which raises the 7th note to create a leading tone.
The Formula (Key of A Minor)
Am (i) → Dm (iv) → E7 (V7)
The Secret Sauce: The V chord in a natural minor key is usually minor (Em). By changing it to a Major Dominant 7th (E7), you create a powerful magnetic pull back to the Am. This V7-i resolution is the defining sound of classical music and Santana-style rock.
4. The Dark Trap Loop (i - VI)
Modern Trap and Hip Hop (Metro Boomin, Future) often simplify things to just two chords to leave room for the 808s.
Am (i) ↔ F (VI)
Oscillating between the root and the flat-six creates a creepy, suspenseful "horror movie" vibe. It never resolves, creating a perfect endless loop for rapping.
Relative Major vs. Relative Minor
Remember that every Minor Key has a relative Major Key that shares the exact same notes.
- A Minor shares notes with C Major.
- E Minor shares notes with G Major.