Am7 chord on guitar
Am7 (A minor 7th) is a minor 7th chord built on A. It has 4 notes, A, C, E and G, and its formula is 1 ♭3 5 ♭7.
Notes and intervals of Am7
From the root upwards, Am7 contains root (A), minor 3rd (C), perfect 5th (E) and minor 7th (G). Those intervals give the chord its colour: the formula 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 works the same way in every key, so once you know it for A you can build the chord on any note.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | A |
| ♭3 | minor 3rd | C |
| 5 | perfect 5th | E |
| ♭7 | minor 7th | G |
How to play Am7 on guitar
The first shape above reads x 0 2 0 1 0 from the low E string to the high E string (x means you do not play that string, 0 is an open string). The lowest note you play is A. The other diagrams show the same chord higher up the neck: pick the one closest to the chords before and after it in your song.
Let the open strings ring: strum slowly once and check that every note sounds clean before you speed up.
Which keys use Am7?
You find Am7 as a diatonic chord in C major (vi7), G major (ii7) and F major (iii7). The most common case is C major, where it plays the role of vi7.
Scales to play over Am7
To improvise over Am7, start with A natural minor scale. All of these scales contain every note of the chord: A natural minor scale, A minor pentatonic scale, A blues scale, A Dorian mode and A Phrygian mode. Aim for the chord notes on strong beats and use the other notes to move between them.
About minor 7th chords
A minor triad plus a minor seventh: 1 ♭3 5 ♭7. Softer and more open than a plain minor chord, the minor seventh is mellow, slightly melancholic and has no urge to resolve. It contains a major triad on its ♭3, which is why it sounds warm rather than dark. For example Am7: A C E G, with C E G inside.
It sits naturally on ii, iii and vi of a major key, and on i, iv and v of the natural minor. Its star role is the ii7 of the ii-V-I: ii7 V7 Imaj7 (for example Dm7 G7 Cmaj7). Funk and soul vamp on one m7 for minutes, and pop uses vi7 and ii7 to soften plain triads.
Start with open Am7 (x02010), Em7 (022030 or 020000) and Dm7 (xx0211). Then learn the E-shape m7 barre (root on the 6th string) and the A-shape m7 barre (root on the 5th string): both are a minor barre with the octave replaced by the ♭7. Funk players love three or four-note versions on the top strings with short, muted strums.
m7 is not m(maj7): Am7 has G, Am(maj7) has G♯. Do not confuse it with m7♭5 either: lower the fifth and you get a half-diminished chord with a much tenser role. Finally, a m7 chord has the same four notes as the 6 chord on its ♭3 (Am7 and C6): the bass note decides which one you hear.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Am7 chord?
Am7 (A minor 7th) contains A, C, E and G. In intervals: root (A), minor 3rd (C), perfect 5th (E) and minor 7th (G).
How do you play Am7 on guitar?
The easiest shape is x 0 2 0 1 0, from the low E string to the high E string. This page shows 3 positions with finger numbers.
What scale goes with Am7?
A natural minor scale fits Am7 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: A minor pentatonic scale, A blues scale, A Dorian mode and A Phrygian mode.
What key is Am7 in?
Am7 belongs to C major (vi7), G major (ii7) and F major (iii7). In C major it is the vi7 chord.
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