The formula for minor chords is 1 b3 5, where b3 indicates that the third note of the scale is flattened. It must be remembered that this formula, although used to construct a minor chord, is still based upon the notes of the major scale. Thus the C minor chord consists of the first, flattened third and fifth notes of the C major scale:
These notes are illustrated in the C minor chord, as shown:
The following table lists all of the notes of the minor chords for the scales previously studied:
*A double flat, bb, lowers the note’s pitch by one tone, e.g., Bbb = A.