BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
59 / 18210 · Module 3 — Minor Scales, Relative Keys, and Why Minor Harmony Behaves Differently← prev⊞ allnext →

3.6Build chords from natural minor

Let's build triads from A natural minor:

Scale:

A B C D E F G

A B C D E F G

Starting from A:

A C E = Am

Starting from B:

B D F = B°

Starting from C:

C E G = C

Starting from D:

D F A = Dm

Starting from E:

E G B = Em

Starting from F:

F A C = F

Starting from G:

G B D = G

So natural minor gives:

Am B° C Dm Em F G

or:

i ii° III iv v VI VII

Notice something surprising:

The chord built on 5 is:

Em

Em = E G B

not E major.

That creates a problem.