Am chord on piano
Am (A minor) is a minor chord built on A. It has 3 notes, A, C and E, and its formula is 1 ♭3 5.
Notes and intervals of Am
From the root upwards, Am contains root (A), minor 3rd (C) and perfect 5th (E). Those intervals give the chord its colour: the formula 1 ♭3 5 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 |
How to play Am on piano
Find A and play A, C and E together. With the right hand, a common fingering is 1-3-5. With the left hand, reverse it (5-3-1). Keep your wrist level and let the fingers curve, so all 3 keys go down at the same time.
Inversions of Am
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts another one in the bass. Am has 2 inversions besides root position: 1st inversion (C E A) and 2nd inversion (E A C). Inversions let you move between chords with tiny hand movements, which is how pianists make progressions sound smooth.
Which keys use Am?
You find Am as a diatonic chord in C major (vi), G major (ii) and F major (iii). The most common case is C major, where it plays the role of vi.
Scales to play over Am
To improvise over Am, start with A natural minor scale. All of these scales contain every note of the chord: A natural minor scale, A harmonic minor scale, A melodic 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 chords
The minor chord swaps the major third for a minor third: 1 ♭3 5. That single semitone makes the sound darker, softer and more inward. Minor does not have to mean sad: in funk, Latin music or rock it can sound tough or cool, and it can end a piece just as convincingly as a major chord.
It is the tonic of minor keys (i) and appears on ii, iii and vi in major keys. Typical moves: i iv V (the major V borrowed from harmonic minor), i ♭VI ♭VII, and vi IV I V. Every major chord has a relative minor a minor third below that shares two of its notes.
Take the major chord and lower the middle note by one semitone. Fingering 1 3 5 in the right hand, 5 3 1 in the left. Practise all three positions (root position, first and second inversion), then play a minor progression such as i iv V choosing the closest inversion each time, keeping common notes under the same fingers.
Reading the symbol wrong is common: 'm' or '-' means minor, while 'M' or 'maj' means major, so Am and AM are different chords. On guitar, the minor third often lies on a string that is easy to mute in a barre. And m is not m7: the 7 adds a fourth note, the minor seventh.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Am chord?
Am (A minor) contains A, C and E. In intervals: root (A), minor 3rd (C) and perfect 5th (E).
How do you play Am on piano?
Play A, C and E together with the right-hand fingering 1-3-5. You can also play it in 2 inversions, shown on this page.
What scale goes with Am?
A natural minor scale fits Am best. Other scales that contain all its notes: A harmonic minor scale, A melodic minor scale, A minor pentatonic scale, A blues scale, A Dorian mode and A Phrygian mode.
What key is Am in?
Am belongs to C major (vi), G major (ii) and F major (iii). In C major it is the vi chord.
Related
Ready to go further than the chart?
The free GuitarHarmony workshop shows every scale on the whole neck, names any chord you play and builds progressions with you. Free account, no card.