A minor (Am)

The most common minor chord, and one of the first to learn. It’s exactly the E major shape, moved over by one string.

It’s played in open position, near the nut, and as a barre chord higher up the neck. It’s the home chord of the key of A minor; in major keys, you’ll find it in C major, G major and F major.

Notes:: A, C, E.
Formula:: 1, ♭3, 5.
Difficulty:: Beginner.
Strings played:: 5 (from the A string).

Chord diagram

e|--0--|
B|--1--|
G|--2--|
D|--2--|
A|--0--|
E|--x--|

Other positions

e|--5--|
B|--5--|
G|--5--|
D|--7--|
A|--7--|
E|--5--|

Common mistakes

High E string not ringing? Your index finger, on the 1st fret of the B string, is touching the string below. Curve it so it comes down from above.

Sounds muddy? You’re strumming the low E string. Start your strum on the open A string.

Variations

Am7: lift your ring finger and let the G string ring open. Softer, more open.

e|--0--|
B|--1--|
G|--0--|
D|--2--|
A|--0--|
E|--x--|

Heard in

House of the Rising Sun (The Animals) runs Am, C, D, F, then Am, C, E. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan): G, D, Am.

Often played with

The chords in its key, the ones you hear most often around A minor.

e|--1--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

D minoriv

e|--0--|
B|--0--|
G|--0--|
D|--2--|
A|--2--|
E|--0--|

E minorv

e|--1--|
B|--1--|
G|--2--|
D|--3--|
A|--3--|
E|--1--|

F major♭VI

e|--3--|
B|--0--|
G|--0--|
D|--0--|
A|--2--|
E|--3--|

G major♭VII