Play minor chords!
Learn to play three basic minor chords on a keyboard or ukulele, practice finger shapes and strumming, and hear how minor chords sound.
Step-by-step guide to play minor chords
Step 1
Sit down with your instrument in a comfy playing position so your hands can move easily.
Step 2
If you have a keyboard press a nearby white key to hear a note and find a group of three black keys so you can spot the A note by looking for the white key between the second and third black key; if you have a ukulele hold it upright and let the strings hang from your shoulder so you can reach the frets.
Step 3
Learn the A minor sound: if you have a keyboard press the three keys A C and E at the same time; if you have a ukulele press the 2nd fret on the top G string with one finger and leave the other strings open then strum all four strings once.
Step 4
Play the A minor chord slowly four times in a row at a steady beat so you can hear how it sounds.
Step 5
Learn the E minor sound: if you have a keyboard press the three keys E G and B at the same time; if you have a ukulele place fingers on frets 0 4 3 2 from the top G string to the A string (G open C fret 4 E fret 3 A fret 2) and strum all four strings once.
Step 6
Play the E minor chord slowly four times in a row at a steady beat to listen to the difference from A minor.
Step 7
Learn the D minor sound: if you have a keyboard press the three keys D F and A at the same time; if you have a ukulele press frets 2 2 1 0 from the top G string to the A string (G fret 2 C fret 2 E fret 1 A open) and strum all four strings once.
Step 8
Play the D minor chord slowly four times in a row so you can hear how it feels different from the other two minor chords.
Step 9
Practice switching between two chords slowly (for example A minor then E minor) and change every four beats so your fingers learn the shapes.
Step 10
Practice a simple down-strum on the ukulele or steady single-press on the keyboard on each beat while you switch chords for one minute to get a smooth sound.
Step 11
Try a short three-chord song by playing A minor for four beats then E minor for four beats then D minor for four beats and repeat this pattern twice.
Step 12
Share a short video or photo of you playing your three minor chords and tell what they sound like on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don’t have a keyboard or a ukulele?
Use a free piano app or online keyboard to press the A, C and E keys (or E, G, B and D, F, A for the other chords) or use a guitar to finger the same notes on equivalent frets so you can follow the keyboard and ukulele steps.
My ukulele chords buzz or my fingers keep missing frets—how do I fix that?
Make sure your fingers press just behind the specified frets (for example frets 2 2 1 0 for D minor), curl your fingertips to avoid touching other strings, and practice the slow four-beat changes from the instructions until the notes ring clear.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children, mark the keyboard key between the second and third black keys and have them strum A minor once slowly, while older kids can speed up the one-minute steady down-strum practice and add the full A–E–D three-chord song pattern.
How can we make the three-chord song more interesting or personal?
Try changing the strumming pattern (add an up-strum or fingerpicking), play the A minor → E minor → D minor sequence with louder and softer dynamics, or record and share a short video on DIY.org describing how each chord sounds to personalize the activity.
Watch videos on how to play minor chords
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Facts about chords and basic music theory
🎧 Composers and songwriters often use minor keys to create feelings of mystery, sadness, or introspection in music.
🎹 Minor chords are built from three notes — root, minor third, and perfect fifth — and that lowered middle note gives them a 'sad' or moody sound.
🎼 On a keyboard a minor triad is root + 3 semitones + 7 semitones, so the same pattern repeats across every octave.
🪕 The ukulele usually has four strings, so beginner-friendly minor chords like Am, Em, and Dm use simple finger shapes.
🤏 With just three minor chords you can accompany many songs — great practice for finger switching, strumming, and hearing chord color.
How do I teach my child to play three basic minor chords on keyboard or ukulele?
What materials do I need to play minor chords on a keyboard or ukulele?
What ages is learning basic minor chords suitable for?
What are the benefits, safety tips, and variations for playing minor chords with kids?
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