Am chord on guitar
A Minor. Notes: A, C and E.
How to play Am
- Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C).
- Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
- Put your ring finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A).
- Let the open A and high E strings ring.
- Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the A string down.
All 4 ways to play Am
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyBarre at fret 5
MediumBarre at fret 5
HardFret 7 position
HardNotes and theory
The minor triad swaps the major third for a minor third, which gives it a darker, sadder color. The formula is 1 b3 5, and you will also see it written as Amin and A-.
Keys that use Am
More A chords
All A guitar chordsAm with another bass note
minor chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the Am chord?
Am (A minor) is made of three notes: A (root), C (minor third) and E (perfect fifth).
How do you play Am on guitar?
The easiest Am is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C). Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E). Put your ring finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A).
Is Am hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 3 fretted notes plus open strings.
What is the difference between Am and A?
Only the third changes. A major uses a major third and sounds bright; A minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.
What key is Am in?
Am belongs to 6 keys: C major (as the vi chord), F major (as the iii chord), G major (as the ii chord), D minor (as the v chord), E minor (as the iv chord) and A minor (as the i chord).
What does a minor chord sound like?
The minor triad swaps the major third for a minor third, which gives it a darker, sadder color.