Chord chart for Am7 Guitar Chord (A minor 7th): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

A minor 7th guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 218 playable shapes

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A minor 7th guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

A minor 7th guitar chord

Am7 is the A minor 7th guitar chord. It uses the notes A, C, E, and G and the interval formula 1-♭3-5-♭7.

The A minor 7th minor 7th chord, blending the minor triad with a minor seventh G, deepens the emotional resonance of the minor tonality. The combination of the minor third C and minor seventh G gives it a smooth, jazzy character, frequently used in blues, soul, and jazz.

Also written as Amin7.

Root note: A
Quality: minor 7th
Chord tones: 4
Playable shapes: 218

Chord tones

ACEG

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape x02010

x02010

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.
  3. 3 Let the fifth, third, and first strings ring open.
  4. 4 Strum from the 5th string down.

Shape x02013

x02013

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string.
  4. 4 Let the fifth and third strings ring open.
  5. 5 Strum from the 5th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

A Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

C Minor Third ♭3

This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.

E Perfect Fifth 5

The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.

G Minor Seventh ♭7

The minor seventh adds bluesy or jazzy tension that wants to move onward.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

A minor 7th shape x02010

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Let the fifth, third, and first strings ring open
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth string
  5. 5 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A minor 7th shape x02013

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Let the fifth and third strings ring open
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth string
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A minor 7th shape x02213

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Let the fifth string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A minor 7th shape x05553

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the fifth string ring open
  6. 6 Do not play the sixth string
  7. 7 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A minor 7th shape 535050

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Let the third and first strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

A minor 7th shape x05550

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Let the fifth and first strings ring open
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth string
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A minor 7th shape x05555

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, 3rd string, and 4th string in barre position
  2. 2 Let the fifth string ring open
  3. 3 Do not play the sixth string
  4. 4 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

A minor 7th shape 575550

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string, 3rd string, 4th string, and 6th string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Let the first string ring open
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in Am7?

Am7 uses the notes A, C, E, and G. Its interval formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7.

What is another name for Am7?

Am7 is also written as Amin7.

How do you play Am7 on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string. Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string. Let the fifth, third, and first strings ring open. Strum from the 5th string down.

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