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

A minor guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 115 playable shapes

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A minor guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

A minor guitar chord

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

The A minor minor chord, composed of the root (A minor), minor third C, and perfect fifth E, evokes a melancholic or introspective emotion. The lowered third C gives it a somber, contemplative quality, contrasting with the major chord’s brightness, and is often used to express depth and emotional complexity.

Also written as Amin.

Root note: A
Quality: minor
Chord tones: 3
Playable shapes: 115

Chord tones

ACE

Common guitar voicings

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

Shape x02210

x02210

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 2nd fret of the 3rd string.
  4. 4 Let the fifth and first strings ring open.
  5. 5 Strum from the 5th string down.

Shape x07555

x07555

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, and 3rd string in barre position.
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string.
  3. 3 Let the fifth string ring open.
  4. 4 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.

Shape details

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

A minor shape x02210

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 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 shape x07555

How to play this shape

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

A minor shape xx7555

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, and 3rd string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  4. 4 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

A minor shape 577555

How to play this shape

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

A minor shape 507550

How to play this shape

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

A minor shape x07550

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 4th 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 shape xx7550

How to play this shape

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

A minor shape 577550

How to play this shape

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

Quick answers

What notes are in Am?

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

What is another name for Am?

Am is also written as Amin.

How do you play Am 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. Place the 3rd finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string. Let the fifth and first strings ring open. Strum from the 5th string down.

Related Articles

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