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Guitar chords · Minor

Am chord on guitar

Am (A minor) has three notes: A, C and E, the , ♭3 and 5.

Shapes

How to play Am

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Am has an , and one : the E shape at 5. A movable shape keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • Open

    ×5R♭3AEACE

  • E shape · fret 5

    5frR5R♭35RAEACEA
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Am minor

A minor chord lowers the 3rd of the major chord by a . That one note gives it its darker, sadder colour.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd makes Am a minor chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. ARroot
  2. C♭3essential
  3. E5optional
EADGBE0135791215AAAAAAAAECECECECECECECECE
  • A, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Am

Am belongs to six keys: C major (vi), G major (ii), F major (iii), A minor (i), E minor (iv) and D minor (v).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Progressions

Progressions with Am

Common progressions that use Am, each in a key that spells it Am. The outlined chord is Am.

  • The pop axis in C major

    I – V – vi – IV

    1. C
    2. G
    3. Am
    4. F

    Four chords that carry a huge share of modern pop. All four sit next to each other on the circle.

    Heard in Let It Be, No Woman No Cry, With or Without You

  • '50s doo-wop in C major

    I – vi – IV – V

    1. C
    2. Am
    3. F
    4. G

    The vi chord softens the move from I to IV before the V pulls back home.

    Heard in Stand by Me, Every Breath You Take

  • Minor pop in A minor

    i – VI – III – VII

    1. Am
    2. F
    3. C
    4. G

    The pop axis rotated to start on the relative minor — same four chords, darker centre.

    Heard in Zombie, Numb, Despacito

  • Andalusian cadence in A minor

    i – VII – VI – V

    1. Am
    2. G
    3. F
    4. E

    A stepwise walk down to a major V borrowed from harmonic minor. Flamenco's signature move.

    Heard in Hit the Road Jack, Runaway, Stray Cat Strut

Slash chords

Am over another bass note

A keeps Am on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Am/C

    Am with its ♭3rd, C, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • Am/E

    Am with its 5th, E, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • Am/G

    Am over G, a passing bass a below the , as in Am, Am/G, Am/F♯, F.

  • Am/F♯

    Am over F♯, a passing bass a major 6th above the , as in Am, Am/G, Am/F♯, F.

Same root

Other chords on A

Change one or two notes and the same gives a different colour. Compare them by ear.

Questions

Am, in short

What notes are in the Am chord?
Am (A minor) has three notes: A, C and E, the , ♭3 and 5.
How do you play Am on guitar?
Am has an , and one : the E shape at 5.
What key is Am in?
Am belongs to six keys: C major (vi), G major (ii), F major (iii), A minor (i), E minor (iv) and D minor (v).
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