Do different minor chords (vi, ii, etc) convey different nuances?
I came across some postings discussing whether different minor keys produce different moods, but i have not found one that compares different minor chords.
As each minor chord has a different sound, do different minor chords convey different nuances or feelings? (eg. Does vi minor produce a different nuance compared to iv minor).
Edit: While this "nuance" issue might be potentially subjective, perhaps there is some general understanding or concept to some extent.
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I would say it depends much more on the progression then the actual function of each chord.
For example, vi to V in isolation would sound nearly identical to ii to I as the same type of movement is used in the chords and in fact in different keys they may be the same chords. However in a I-ii-V or a I-vi-V progression the function in the key is clearer and the two progressions give a different overall sound sandwiched between the two chords.
Function itself can be altered by modulation, secondary dominance, and modal borrowing. Any of those above can really change the context of the chords. For example the vi chord can be used to pivot to the dominant key where it functions as a ii chord. So in the context of one chord it is both ii and vi at the same time as seen below.
That depends totally on the listener.
Many musicians can tell chords apart by their absolute frequency. Some of them strongly associate different emotions or impressions with specific chords, others don't.
Many other people cannot different minor chords apart, but they can tell major from minor. Again, some of them react strongly to minor vs. major chords, others don't have any particular reaction beyond "Oh yeah, this is minor, isn't it."
And of course, may people cannot tell a consonance from a dissonance at all and may react to loudness, instrumentation, beat etc. instead.
To make things more complicated, it is altogether possible to have different reactions to different stimuli without being able to consciously distinguish them (e.g. in an exam). That applies to music just as well as other sensations.
That said, the question whether different key have inherent characteristics, and which ones, has a long, disputed and fascinating history. Here is some info from wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_%28music%29#Key_coloration
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonartencharakter
I think @Dom points out the most important thing: the harmonic context of the chord.
But, another factor I think you can consider is the inversion of the chord. Root-position ii sounds different than ii6 (1st inversion, third of chord in the bass.) At the risk of over simplifying, root position minor chords can covey fear, rage, etc. while first inversion minor chords can feel more transitory, indecisive, etc. Obviously, many different moods can be created with either inversion, but be aware of inversion as a resource to exploit.
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