Am chord on guitar

Am is the A minor chord. Its notes are A, C and E. The lowered third gives this triad its darker color.

How to play Am

Open shape

x02210

Barre chord

fret 5, E shape

577555

Barre tip: the long bar marked BARRE means one finger presses several strings at once. Lay it flat just behind the fret, press with the bony outer edge rather than the soft middle, and keep your thumb behind the neck. Pick each string one at a time and nudge the finger until none of them buzz.

Numbers show frets from the low E string to the high e string; x means don't play that string.

What's in Am

A1
C♭3
E5

Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5
Also written: Am, Amin, A−
Chord type: Minor

Keys that use Am

Am is the ii chord in G major, the iii chord in F major and the vi chord in C major. That makes it a natural fit in songs written in those keys.

Am notes across the neck

Every A, C and E on the first 12 frets. The filled dots are the root, A. Build your own shape from any nearby group.

Related chords

Other A chords

A Am A7 Amaj7 Am7 A5 Asus2 Asus4 Aadd9 A6 Am6 Aaug Adim Adim7 Am7♭5 A9 Amaj9 Am9 Ammaj7 A7♭5 A7♯5 A7♭9 A7♯9

Other minor chords

Cm C♯m Dm E♭m Em Fm F♯m Gm A♭m Am B♭m Bm

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