Am Guitar Chord
Welcome to our tutorial on the A minor (A m) chord, a foundational piece of the Minor Chords family. Composed of the notes A, C, and E, this chord is built from the intervals 1 (Root), b3 (Minor Third), and 5 (Perfect Fifth). These intervals create a rich and soulful sound that is characteristic of minor chords, adding depth and emotion to your music.
Understanding the intervals that make up the A m chord is crucial for mastering its structure and sound. If you need a refresher on what these intervals mean, check out our tutorial on fretboard intervals. You can also learn more about how these intervals stack up to build chords in our guitar music theory tutorial.
Once you've got a handle on the theory behind the A m chord, you'll be ready to dive into our chord diagrams and fretboard patterns. These visual aids will show you exactly where to place your fingers to play the A m chord, and highlight the tones that make up this chord. If you're unsure about how to read these diagrams, our tutorial on chord notation can help clarify things.
Mastering the A m chord is an essential step on your guitar playing journey. Whether you're a beginner just starting out, or an intermediate player looking to expand your chord vocabulary, understanding and being able to play the A m chord opens up a world of musical possibilities. For more advanced chords, don't forget to check our intermediate guitar chord tutorial.
Happy playing!
A m chord Notes:
Tones of the Minor chord:
The A Minor Guitar Chords | Keys and Songs
The A minor chord is one first chords you should learn.
It pairs well with the C major chord, for two reasons: they are both parts of the key of C major, one of the most used key, and you can switch from one chord to the other by just moving the ring finger from the 3rd fret of the A string (C major) to the 2nd fret of the G string (A minor), back and forth.
As you can see in the following table, the A minor chord is the Submediant chord of the key of C, which is located at the 6th degree of the scale:
| Key | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am | B dim |
The key of A minor is relative to C major, so it has the same chords but in different order:
| Key | i | ii | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Am | B dim | C | Dm | Em | F | G |
A Minor Chord Progression
The A minor chord is present in the Axis of Awesome progression: C G Am F, probably the most used and over-abused chord sequence in the history of western world.
Also the Doo Wop progression (C Am F G) show an A minor chord.
There are many other progressions that use the A minor chord, check my ebook 52 Chord Progressions | Learn How To Connect Chords and Create Great Songs for a complete reference.
Other Keys That Contains The A Minor Chord
The A minor chord is present in many other keys, here below you find the most used keys:
G Major Key
Here the A minor chord is the Supertonic, because is located on the 2nd degree
| Key | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | G | Am | Bm | C | D | Em | F# dim |
F Major Key
Here the A minor chord works as Mediant
| Key | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | F | Gm | Am | Bb | C | Dm | E dim |
E Minor Key
In the E minor key, the A minor chord works as Subdominant.
| Key | i | ii | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | Em | F# dim | G | Am | Bm | C | D |
D Minor Key
In D minor Key, the A Minor Key has the role of dominant, notice how it well resolves to the root (D)
| Key | i | ii | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | Dm | E dim | F | Gm | Am | Bb | C |
Songs with the A minor chord
On guitar, probably it is impossible to find a song that does not have an A minor chord somewhere.
Here's a quick list of songs that begins with an A minor chord:
- Stairway to Heaven
- House of the Rising Sun
- Californication
- The Unforgiven
- Losing my Religion
- Still got the Blues
- Breaking the Law
- Angie
This easy guitar songs list will show you more tunes.
Ok, be sure to master this chord really well because you'll encounter it many times in your guitar life. To learn anything you need about guitar chords, check my Chords Domination | Play Any Chord You Want Across All The Fretboard.
Guitar Patterns for the Am chord
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Movable
Position 2
Open
Position 3
Open
Position 4
Open
Position 5
Movable
Position 6
Open
Position 7
Open
Position 8
Open
Position 9
Open
Position 10
Movable
Position 11
Open
Position 12
Open
Position 13
Barre
Movable
Position 14
Barre
Open
Position 15
Barre
Open
Position 16
Barre
Movable
Position 17
Barre
Movable
Position 18
Barre
Open
Position 19
Barre
Movable
Position 20
Barre
Movable
You can find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
prefer a printable pdf, download
the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf
FAQ
What notes and intervals make up the A minor chord?
The A minor chord is composed of three notes: A, C, and E. These notes correspond to the intervals of the Root (1), the Minor Third (b3), and the Perfect Fifth (5) relative to the root note A.
Why is the A minor chord considered foundational for guitarists?
The A minor chord is foundational because it's a key part of the minor chords family, offering a rich and soulful sound. It's one of the first chords typically learned, opening up many musical possibilities, and it's frequently used in countless songs and chord progressions.
How does the A minor chord relate to the key of C Major?
In the key of C Major, the A minor chord functions as the Submediant (vi chord), located at the 6th degree of the scale. This means it's a natural fit within songs in C Major. Practically, you can often switch between C major and A minor chords by moving just one finger.
In what other common keys can I find the A minor chord, and what role does it play?
Besides C Major and A minor, the A minor chord appears in several other keys with different functions. For example, it's the Supertonic (ii) in G Major, the Mediant (iii) in F Major, the Subdominant (iv) in E Minor, and the Dominant (v) in D Minor, where it often effectively resolves to the root.
Can you give examples of popular songs or chord progressions that use the A minor chord?
The A minor chord is found in many popular songs and common chord progressions. Well-known examples include the 'Axis of Awesome' progression (C G Am F) and the 'Doo Wop' progression (C Am F G). It also features prominently in songs like 'Stairway to Heaven,' 'House of the Rising Sun,' and 'Californication'.