Chord Color

Major and minor chords: understand the difference

The difference between major and minor mostly comes from the third. This small distance strongly changes the color of the chord.

The third changes everything

In a triad, the root gives the chord its name, the fifth stabilizes it, and the third gives the major or minor color.

C major = C E GC minor = C Eb Gthe third gives the color

A major third often gives a brighter color.
A minor third often gives a darker color.
Musical context matters: major does not always mean happy, minor does not always mean sad.