Chords in the Key of a Minor
In minor keys, as with major keys, there are 3 principle chords, based on the first, fourth and fifth notes of the minor scale. In the key of A minor, the 3 principle chords are A minor (Im), D minor (IVm) and E dominant 7th (V7).
In Note Form:
In Chord Diagram Form:
Am
Dm
E7
The next exercise uses a combination of down ( a ) and down/up (as) strumming. The equivalent timing of the strums are indicated as follows:
Remember to strum the chords lightly so that the bass notes can be clearly heard.
The following arrangement of Volga Boatman features the melody as the top note of each chord, with the stems pointing upward. The rest of the chord, which is the accompaniment, has the stems pointing downward.
It is extremely important for the melody notes to be heard clearly, and this will require accurate right hand control in order to play only the correct number of strings.
Be sure to hold all bass notes for their correct values (note the fingering used in bar 9). The wavy line placed next to the A minor chord in the last bar indicates a broken chord, which means to glide the pick slowly across the strings.
"Waltz" begins in the key of C major (notice the predominance of C and G7 chords) and then moves into the key of A minor from bars 17 to 24 (where Am and E7 chords occur). The movement, within a piece, from one key to another is called modulation and is very common in all forms of music. This song features a modulation from the major key (C) to its relative minor (Am).
The term D.C. al Fine (bar 24) indicates a repeat from the beginning to the word Fine (end).
