Creating Chord Extensions on the Guitar (Minor)

This post will build on the previous post – Creating Chord Extensions on the Guitar – Major. Here I will show how to take a common chord and create the extensions around it.

The notes are written below, using A Minor as an example but can be used for any Minor chords. When you realise that there are many, playable, versions of the A Minor chord to be found on the guitar you can build a range of versions of the other chords. Not every chord will be playable in every shape but many will.

Minor Chords use notes of the Relative or Natural Minor Scale.

A Minor Scale – A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D.

                              1, 2,  3, 4,  5, 6,  7,  8,  9,10,11.

Minor Triad – 1, (Minor) 3, 5.                                                    Eg. A Minor – A,C,E.

Minor 6th –           Minor Triad + 6 note.                                A Minor 6     – A,C,E,F.

Minor 7th –           Minor Triad + 7 note.                                 A Minor 7     – A,C,E,G.

Minor 9th –           Minor Triad + 7 + 9 notes.                   A Minor 9     – A,C,E,G,B.

(Not possible with this shape).

Minor 11th –         Minor Triad + 7 + 9 + 11 notes.            A Minor 11    – A,C,E,G,B,D.

Minor add 9 –       Minor Triad + 9 note.                            A Minor add 9 – A,C,E,B.

(Not possible with this shape).

Minor add 11 –     Minor Triad + 11 note.                           A Minor add 11 – A,C,E,D.

So, hopefully you can see that by knowing one Chord (A Minor) and knowing how to move it up and down the fret board and then using the examples above you can play at least one version of the chord extensions shown for every Minor chord you will come across. Enjoy.