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A minor 7th chord on bass (Am7)
Also called or written Am7 or Amin7
A minor 7th contains A, C, E, and G. The 5th-fret shape stretches the pinky to the 7th fret on the A string, making it a demanding bass chord.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionA–C–E–GAm75-7-5-5
- First inversionC–E–G–AAm7/Cno shape on this instrument
- Second inversionE–G–A–CAm7/E12-12-10-12
- Third inversionG–A–C–EAm7/G3-3-2-2
How do you play an A minor 7th chord on bass?
A minor 7th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 5 5: index finger on the E string at fret 5, pinky finger on the A string at fret 7, middle finger on the D string at fret 5 and ring finger on the G string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5 | 1 | A (1) |
| 3 (A) | 7 | 4 | E (5) |
| 2 (D) | 5 | 2 | G (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 5 | 3 | C (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 7th fret on the A string while the other fingers hold the 5th fret, requiring a wide stretch.
Am7/E inversion
A minor 7th is played at the 10th fret as 12 12 10 12: middle finger on the E string at fret 12, ring finger on the A string at fret 12, index finger on the D string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 2 | E (5) |
| 3 (A) | 12 | 3 | A (1) |
| 2 (D) | 10 | 1 | C (♭3) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 4 | G (♭7) |
Am7/G inversion · fret 2
A minor 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 3 3 2 2: ring finger on the E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3, index finger on the D string at fret 2 and middle finger on the G string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 1 | E (5) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (1) |
Am7/G inversion · fret 14
A minor 7th is played at the 14th fret as 15 15 14 14: ring finger on the E string at fret 15, pinky finger on the A string at fret 15, index finger on the D string at fret 14 and middle finger on the G string at fret 14.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 15 | 3 | G (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 15 | 4 | C (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 14 | 1 | E (5) |
| 1 (G) | 14 | 2 | A (1) |
Why it sounds like that
A minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The minor 7th interval from A to G gives the chord its mellow, unresolved quality. Compare it with A minor, which omits the G.
What goes wrong with A minor 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and buzz the 3rd string.
- Allowing the middle finger to touch the 1st string and mute the G.
- Strumming before all fingers are firmly placed, causing a dead note.
When to use it
A minor 7th functions as the vi chord in C major, appearing in progressions like C–G–Am–F (I–V–vi–IV). It suits soul, R&B, and slow rock ballads, often paired with A minor and F major.
Changing to and from A minor 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 3rd fret gives G minor 7th.
- From A minor 7th, move the pinky from the 7th fret to the 8th fret on the A string to form B♭ minor 7th.
Which voicing to use
Use the 5th-fret voicing for a root-position A minor 7th with a low A. The Am7/E inversion at the 12th fret puts the fifth in the bass for a smoother, less grounded sound, while the Am7/G inversion at the 3rd fret places the seventh in the bass for a stepwise descending line.
Other A chords
Common questions
How does A minor 7th differ from A minor?
A minor 7th adds the note G, a minor 7th above A, to the A minor triad. The added seventh creates a softer, more complex sound that pulls toward the sixth or fifth degree.
What is the best way to finger the 5th-fret shape?
Use the index finger on the 4th string, middle on the 2nd, ring on the 1st, and pinky on the 3rd string. Keep the thumb low on the neck to allow the pinky to reach the 7th fret without strain.
Can A minor 7th be played with open strings?
No, the root A is on the 5th fret of the E string, so all notes are fretted in the default voicing. An open-string voicing would require a different inversion, such as the Am7/G shape at the 3rd fret.
Why is the Am7/G inversion useful?
The Am7/G inversion places the seventh, G, in the bass, creating a descending bass line when moving to F major. It is useful for voice leading in progressions like Am7–G–F.