A minor chord

A minor chord for guitar with diagrams, fingerings and notes.

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Alternative shapes

Am

Description and theory

Am is usually played as an open chord, but it's common to play it as a barre chord as well.

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Chord progressions

Am - F - G - C

Progressions with diagrams (PDF)

More progressions with A minor

Chords that sound good together with A minor

The primary chords to combine with Am in chord progressions are: C, Dm, Em, F, G.
Secondary chords are among many others: Cmaj7, Dm7, E, F6, G11, Bm7b5.

Follow-up chords

Chords that are likely to follow A minor in progressions:
› C
› Dm
› E
› G

Finger position (Am chord)

Index (1st) finger on 2nd string, 1st fret.
Middle (2nd) finger on 4th string, 2nd fret.
Ring (3rd) finger on 3rd string, 2nd fret.

Chord names

The Am is an abbreviation for A minor (a less common abbreviation is Amin).

Theory of Am chord

The notes that the Am chord consists of are A, C, E.
To get Am7 add G.
To get Am6 add F#.

Inversions

1st inversion: Am/C (means that C is the bass note).
2nd inversion: Am/E (means that E is the bass note).
Diagrams of these inversions

Assorted slash chords

Versions with alternate bass notes in short notation:

Am/B: X22210 / X2X210
Am/D: XX0210
Am/F: 102210
Am/G: 302010

See The Chord Reference ebook (over 800 chord charts), for a PDF.

Alternative chord names

Am/B is theoretically identical with Amadd9/B.
Am/D is theoretically identical with Amadd11/D.
Am/F is theoretically identical with Fmaj7.

Alternative shapes and voicings

Other ways to play A minor, in short notation:

XX7555 - could be combined with XX6557 (Am9 voicing) and XX5558 (Am7 voicing)

Omissions (dyads)

Am (no3) is an A minor with no third (C).
Am (no5) is an A minor with no fifth (E).

Written in tab format

- 0 -
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 2 -
- 0 -
- - -

See The Chord Reference ebook (over 800 chord charts), for a PDF.

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