Ways to play Am
Open position first, then up the neck. Tap a shape to put it on the fretboard above and hear it. The numbers are fingers (1 is your index), × means leave that string out, and ○ means let it ring open.
What's in Am
A minor chord lowers the 3rd by a half step: root, minor 3rd (three half steps) and perfect 5th. A minor is A, C and E. Next to A major, the only note that moves is the 3rd, C♯ down to C.
| Note | Formula | Interval from A |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Root |
| C | ♭3 | Minor 3rd |
| E | 5 | Perfect 5th |
Darker and more inward than major. In a major key the ii, iii and vi chords are minor; in a minor key the i and usually the iv are.
The key of A minor
The relative minor of C, with no sharps or flats. Am, Dm, Em, C, G and F all sit in open position, and the A minor pentatonic at the 5th fret is the first scale shape most guitarists learn.
The seven chords built from the A minor scale:
Songs in A minor
- Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin
- Ain't No Sunshine, Bill Withers
- House of the Rising Sun, The Animals
- Losing My Religion, R.E.M.
Keys that use Am
Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of A, C and E, and the chord's Roman numeral in each.
| Key | Am is the |
|---|---|
| A minor | i |
| E minor | iv |
| D minor | v |
| G major | ii |
| C major | vi |
| F major | iii |
Progressions to try
i–iv–v in A minor
Minor-key blues and folk. Swap the v for a major V when you want a stronger pull home.
i–VI–III–VII in A minor
The minor-key cousin of I–V–vi–IV: the same four chords, started from the minor one.
Related chords
The relative major is C, which shares its key signature. The parallel major is A, same root with the 3rd raised.
Other chords on A: