The Chord Families: Major, Minor, Dominant, and Diminished
Chords are the foundation of music, and understanding how they function within a key is essential for every guitarist. In diatonic harmony, each key is home to a set of chords that fall into four primary categories: major, minor, dominant, and diminished. These “families” of chords work together to create mood, movement, and tension in any song.
This guide explores each chord family, its role in a key, and how you can use this knowledge to improve your playing. Whether you’re learning new songs, improvising, or writing original music, mastering these concepts will open up a world of creative possibilities.
What Are Chord Families?
Chord families group chords based on their function within a key. Every major key contains seven chords, derived from the major scale, and these chords fall into one of three categories:
- Major Chords: Bright and stable, they serve as the foundation of the key.
- Minor Chords: Emotional and introspective, they add depth and contrast.
- Dominant Chords: Tense and unresolved, they drive the music forward.
Understanding these families will give you a deeper appreciation of how music flows and how to create compelling progressions. At their most fundamental level, these chords are formed using triads.
Major Chords: The Foundation of the Key
Major chords are built from the 1st, 4th, and 5th degrees of the major scale, commonly referred to as the I, IV, and V chords. These chords are the most stable and harmonically “at home” within a key.
How are Major Chords Constructed?
- The root (1st degree of the scale)
- A major third (4 half steps above the root)
- A perfect fifth (7 half steps above the root)
How Do Major Chords Sound?
Major chords are bright, uplifting, and confident. They’re often the starting point for progressions, giving listeners a sense of resolution and stability.
Major Chords in the Key of C
- C Major (I)
- F Major (IV)
- G Major (V)
Application
The I-IV-V progression is one of the most common in Western music. This is essentially the blues progression. Try this example in the key of C:
C – F – G – C
Listen to how the F and G chords add movement while the C chord provides resolution. Practice this progression in different strumming patterns or with fingerpicking to explore its versatility.
Minor Chords: Adding Depth and Emotion
Minor chords are built from the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th degrees of the major scale, labeled as the ii, iii, and vi chords. They contrast the brightness of major chords with a darker, more introspective sound.
How Are Minor Chords Constructed?
- The root (1st degree of the scale)
- A minor third (3 half steps above the root)
- A perfect fifth (7 half steps above the root)
How Do Minor Chords Sound?
Minor chords are darker and more introspective, evoking a range of emotions from melancholy to tension.
Minor Chords in the Key of C
- D Minor (ii)
- E Minor (iii)
- A Minor (vi)
Application
A common progression that includes minor chords is the I-vi-IV-V progression, often used in pop music. Try this example in C major:
C – Am – F – G
Notice how the A minor adds an emotional shift while the F and G bring the progression back to the stability of C.
Dominant Chords: The Engine of Movement
Dominant chords are built from the 5th degree of the major scale, commonly referred to as the V7 chord. They create tension that demands resolution, making them crucial for driving a progression forward.
How Are Dominant Chords Constructed?
- The root (1st degree of the scale)
- A major third (4 half steps above the root)
- A perfect fifth (7 half steps above the root)
- A minor seventh (10 half steps above the root)
How Do Dominant Chords Sound?
Dominant chords are tense and unresolved, creating anticipation that resolves back to the tonic (I) chord.
Dominant Chords in the Key of C
- G7 (V7)
Application
The tension-and-release effect of dominant chords is a hallmark of Western music. Play this progression in C major:
C – G7 – C
Feel how the G7 chord pulls you back to the C chord. Experiment by adding dominant chords to other progressions to hear how they create momentum.
Diminished Chords: The Tension Builders
Diminished chords are built from the 7th degree of the major scale, labeled as the vii° chord. They’re dissonant and unstable, often used to add tension before resolving to a more stable chord.
How Are Diminished Chords Constructed?
- The root (1st degree of the scale)
- A minor third (3 half steps above the root)
- A diminished fifth (6 half steps above the root)
How Do Diminished Chords Sound?
Diminished chords sound suspenseful and unresolved, making them perfect for creating dramatic transitions.
Diminished Chords in the Key of C
- Bdim (vii°)
Application
Diminished chords are often used to lead into the tonic chord. Play this progression in C major:
Bdim – C
To add even more drama, use a diminished 7th chord:
Bdim7 (B – D – F – Ab)
How Chord Families Work Together
Each chord family serves a unique role in creating movement and mood within a key:
- Major Chords establish stability and resolution.
- Minor Chords introduce contrast and emotion.
- Dominant Chords drive the progression forward with tension.
- Diminished Chords add drama and suspense, leading to more stable chords.
By combining these families, you can craft progressions that feel dynamic and satisfying, balancing stability, tension, and emotional shifts.
Try This Progression
In the key of C major, play: C – Am – F – G7 (I – vi – IV – V7).
- C Major (I) provides a stable foundation.
- A Minor (vi) introduces an emotional contrast.
- F Major (IV) adds richness and warmth.
- G7 (V7) creates tension that resolves beautifully back to C.
Experiment with this progression using different strumming patterns or tempos to explore its versatility.
Beyond Major Keys: Minor Keys and Secondary Dominants
While this guide focuses on major keys, the same principles apply to minor keys, where chord families shift slightly. For example, in A minor (the relative minor of C major), the i, iv, and V7 chords create a similar sense of movement.
You can also use secondary dominants to add color and complexity. A secondary dominant resolves to a chord other than the tonic. For example:
- In C major, use D7 (V7 of ii) to lead into D minor.
This technique momentarily shifts the focus while remaining harmonically connected, making progressions more engaging. Feel free to download the following tabs to find all of the common chords in the keys of C, G, D, A, and E.
Practice Routines for Mastering Chord Families
1. Start with Common Progressions
Play I-IV-V, I-vi-IV-V, or the ii-V-I progressions in multiple keys. Example in G major:
- G – C – D (I-IV-V)
- G – Em – C – D (I-vi-IV-V)
- Dm – G – C (ii-V-I)
2. Explore Dominant Tension
Practice resolving dominant chords to the tonic:
- G7 – C
3. Incorporate Diminished Chords
Experiment with Bdim leading into C major:
- Bdim – C
4. Practice in All Keys
Transpose progressions into different keys to internalize the sound of each chord family.
5. Recommended Listening
To hear these chord families in action, listen to the following songs:
- Major Chords: “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen (I-IV-V in E major)
- Minor Chords: “Creep” by Radiohead (G – B – C – Cm; minor chords add tension and melancholy)
- Dominant Chords: “Stormy Monday” by T-Bone Walker (dominant chords form the backbone of this blues classic)
- Diminished Chords: “Round Midnight” by Thelonious Monk (diminished chords create haunting, jazzy transitions)
Play along with these songs to internalize how chord families contribute to the mood and movement of a progression.
The Coda: Ready to Go Further?
Understanding chord families is a fundamental skill that opens up countless possibilities for your playing. By mastering major, minor, dominant, and diminished chords, you’ll gain the tools to create more dynamic progressions and express yourself fully on the guitar.
Want personalized guidance? Green Hills Guitar Studio offers personalized guitar lessons in Nashville and online to help you reach your musical goals. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, we’re here to support your journey.
