A minor chord
- Ala
- Cdo
- Emi
Am chord notes
A minor stacks a minor third on its root and a major third on top, three semitones and then four. Only the middle note moves down from the major chord, and the sound turns darker. Chord charts write it as Am.
| Note | Interval from the root | Semitones |
|---|---|---|
| Ala | Root1 | 0 |
| Cdo | Minor thirdb3 | 3 |
| Emi | Perfect fifth5 | 7 |
Am chord inversions
An inversion plays the same notes with a different one at the bottom. Using Am's inversions keeps your hand close to the next chord, so you move less between chords.
Root position
A, C, E
- Right hand
- 1-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-1
First inversion
C, E, A
- Right hand
- 1-2-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-1
Second inversion
E, A, C
- Right hand
- 1-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-2-1
Keys that use Am
In these major keys Am is one of the key's own chords. The numeral beside each key is its place in that key, as chord charts write it.
- C majorVIm
- F majorIIIm
- G majorIIm
Piano practice that remembers
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What notes are in the Am chord?
A minor (Am) is A, C, E. In solfège that's la, do, mi.
Which fingers play Am?
In root position, the right hand plays 1-3-5 and the left hand 5-3-1, counting from the lowest note. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5.
How is Am different from the major chord?
Only the middle note. Lower the major chord's third by one semitone and you have Am, so you can switch between the two without moving your hand.