Am Chord on Guitar
Notes A C E. Start with open Am (x 0 2 2 1 0): index on string 2 fret 1, middle on string 4 fret 2, ring on string 3 fret 2, string 6 not played.
Chord · Am minor
Open Am · x 0 2 2 1 0
open strings
Em-shape barre (fret 5) · 5 7 7 5 5 5
barre, movable
Dm-shape, 4 strings (fret 7) · x x 7 9 10 8
movable, no open strings
Am-shape barre (fret 12) · x 12 14 14 13 12
barre, movable
1 A♭3 C5 E
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): open
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 2
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 2
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 1
- String 1 (high e): open
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 5
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 5
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 7
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 7
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 5
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 5
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 7
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 9
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 10
- String 1 (high e): middle (2), fret 8
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 12
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 12
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 14
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 14
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 13
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 12
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | root |
| ♭3 | C | minor 3rd |
| 5 | E | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 ♭3 5 (minor).
Also written Amin, A minor.
More on this chord type: Open (cowboy) chords
Capo shapes that sound as Am
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Em shape + capo 5
Dm shape + capo 7
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Progressions with Am
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| A minor i–iv–v–i | Am – Dm – Em – Am | |
| A minor i–iv–VII–III | Am – Dm – G – C | |
| C major I–vi–ii–V | C – Am – Dm – G | |
| C major I–V–vi–IV | C – G – Am – F | |
| G major ii–V–I | Am – D – G |
Keys that contain Am
| Key | Am is the |
|---|---|
| A minor | i |
| D minor | v |
| E minor | iv |
| C major | vi |
| G major | ii |
| F major | iii |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Am: what goes wrong
The E shape one string over
Open Am (x 0 2 2 1 0) is the open E grip (0 2 2 1 0 0) moved one string toward the floor. If you know E, you already know Am.
Am to C moves one finger
Index and middle stay; the ring finger goes from string 3 fret 2 (Am) to string 5 fret 3 (C). Practise just that move.
Related chords
Learn and practise Am
- Metronomepractise the change to Am at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in Am?
A, C, E: the 1, ♭3, 5 of the Am minor chord.
What is the difference between Am and A?
One note. Am is A, C, E; A major is A, C♯, E. On the guitar the open shapes differ by the finger on string 2: fret 1 (C) for Am, fret 2 (C♯) for A.