Open String Minor Chord Variations

Last time we looked at variations you can use for open string major chords. Of course for every major chord there is a minor chord too. So of course there are variations for the open string minor chords too.

D Minor
For the open string D minor chord there are 2 common suspended chords.

Which are actually the same as the Dsus2 and Dsus4 chords used with the D major chord. However in this case the fingers used will be different. To go to Dsus2 from D minor finger 1 is removed with fingers 2 and 3 staying in place. For Dsus4 fingers 2 and 3 remain in place again and finger 4 is added to fret 3 on the 1st string.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D minor 7 is another handy chord variation to know. This is basically the F major chord with D note in the bass. Here finger 1 plays a double stop on fret 1 of the 1st 2 strings and finger 2 is on fret 2 of the 3rd string.

 

 

 

A Minor
For A minor the suspended chords are also the same as for the parallel major chord (A). However the fingers used are different.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take note of how the fingers are used with fingers 2 and 3 not moving when changing from A minor to either suspended chord.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another easy A minor chord variation is A minor 7. This chord just requires 2 fingers to play with the change from A minor requiring that you take finger 3 off the fretboard. Even easier is A7sus2 which only uses finger 2 on fret 2 of the 4th string.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E Minor
The E minor chord has a range of variations with the most common being the E minor 7 chord.

 

 

 

 

 

This chord is E minor with an added D note. There are 3 main ways of playing this as an open string chord. The fist is the easiest as it only requires one finger on fret 2 of the 5^th string. This chord is used in Weather With You by Crowded House.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next E minor 7 chord variation adds the D note with finger 3 on fret 3 of the 2^nd string. The final version uses all 4 fingers with the addition of the G note on the 1^st string to give the chord a chiming sound. This chord is used in Wonderwall by Oasis and Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show.

 

 

 

 

 

E minor add 2 works by adding an F# note on fret 2 of the 1^st string, Another common variation of this chord has the F# note played on fret 4 of the 4^th string. This chord is used by Faith No More in Zombie Eaters and by Metallica in Sanitarium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final variation is E minor 6 which adds C# on fret 2 of the 2^nd string

Of course there are heaps of other chord variations but these should be enough to get you started in exploring ways to make your chords sound interesting and fresh.