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.
About this activity
Learn to play three basic minor chords on a keyboard or ukulele, practice finger shapes and strumming, and hear how minor chords sound.
What you need
Step by step
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Step 1
Sit down with your instrument in a comfy playing position so your hands can move easily.
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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.
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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.
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Step 4
Play the A minor chord slowly four times in a row at a steady beat so you can hear how it sounds.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Step 12
Share a short video or photo of you playing your three minor chords and tell what they sound like on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I teach my child to play three basic minor chords on keyboard or ukulele?
Start by choosing three simple minor chords (A minor, D minor and E minor). Show the finger shapes slowly on the keyboard or ukulele and demonstrate each chord. Have the child place fingers, press or strum, and listen to the sound. Practice switching between chords at a slow tempo with a steady beat or metronome. Use short, fun exercises and a simple song that uses those chords. Praise attempts and repeat brief daily sessions to build muscle memory.
What materials do I need to play minor chords on a keyboard or ukulele?
You'll need either a small keyboard or a child-sized ukulele, a printed chord chart showing A minor, D minor and E minor fingerings, and a tuner or tuning app. For ukulele: a soft pick is optional; for keyboard: finger-style guidance is enough. Optional items: a metronome or tempo app, a notebook for goals, a comfortable seat and a quiet practice space. Keep instruments well tuned and child-friendly.
What ages is learning basic minor chords suitable for?
Learning three basic minor chords works well for many ages. Preschoolers (4–6) can start with guided exploration of finger placement and simple strumming with adult help; early elementary (7–9) can learn chord shapes and basic switching; older children (10–14) can practice faster changes and varied strumming patterns. Adjust lesson length to attention span—short 10–15 minute sessions for younger kids, increasing time as coordination and focus improve.
What are the benefits, safety tips, and variations for playing minor chords with kids?
Playing minor chords develops ear training, finger strength, rhythm, and emotional expression—minor sounds teach contrast to major chords. It also boosts concentration and memory and supports singing or songwriting. For safety, encourage good posture, gentle hand stretches before practice, and limit session length to avoid strain. Variations: try arpeggios, different strumming patterns, transpose the three chords to other keys, or play along with backing tracks to explore mood and tone.
Watch & Learn
Need 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.