In this section: Chords

A minor 7 (Am7)

A minor minus the ring finger: two fingers, and the open G string supplies the seventh. Softer and more open than A minor.

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, G.
Formula:: 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7.
Difficulty:: Beginner.
Strings played:: 5 (from the A string).

Chord diagram

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

Other positions

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

Common mistakes

Open G string muted? Your middle finger, on the D string, is touching it. Curve it more.

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

Variations

Am: put your ring finger back on the 2nd fret of the G string.

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

Heard in

C, Am7, Dm7, G7: the dressed-up version of the C, Am, Dm, G progression, very common in soul and jazz.

Often played with

The chords in its key, the ones you hear most often around A minor 7.

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

D7V of the key

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

G major 7I of the key

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

E minor 7v