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A minor chord on guitar (Am)
Also called or written Am or Amin
A minor contains A, C, and E, built from 1, ♭3, 5. The open shape is a first-position staple that every beginner can fret cleanly.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5
- Root positionA–C–EAm×-0-2-2-1-0
- First inversionC–E–AAm/C×-3-2-2-1-0
- Second inversionE–A–CAm/E0-0-2-2-1-0
How do you play an A minor chord on guitar?
A minor is played in open position as × 0 2 2 1 0: middle finger on the D string at fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 2 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The A and high e strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (5) |
BeginnerThe hardest part is keeping the index finger arched on the B string while the open high E rings clearly.
5th fret
A minor is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 7 5 5 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, ring finger on the A string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the D string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 3 | E (5) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 4 | A (1) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 1 (barre) | C (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
12th fret
A minor is played at the 12th fret as × 12 14 14 13 12: barre your index finger across fret 12, ring finger on the D string at fret 14, pinky finger on the G string at fret 14 and middle finger on the B string at fret 13. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 14 | 3 | E (5) |
| 3 (G) | 14 | 4 | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 13 | 2 | C (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
Amin/C inversion · open position
A minor is played in open position as × 3 2 2 1 0: pinky finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 2 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The high e string rings open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (5) |
Amin/C inversion · fret 7
A minor is played at the 7th fret as 8 7 7 9 × ×: ring finger on the low E string at fret 8, index finger on the A string at fret 7, middle finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8 | 3 | C (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 1 | E (5) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 2 | A (1) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
A minor is built from the root A, a minor third C, and a perfect fifth E. The ♭3 interval is what separates it from A major, which raises that note to C♯. This single semitone change turns the chord from bright to dark.
What goes wrong with A minor?
- Letting the index finger collapse and mute the open high E string.
- Strumming the low E string, which muddies the root-position voicing.
- Pressing the middle and ring fingers flat so they touch the adjacent open strings.
When to use it
A minor is the vi chord in C major, so it anchors progressions like C–G–Am–F (I–V–vi–IV) and Am–F–C–G (vi–IV–I–V). It suits folk, rock ballads, and any progression that needs a melancholy lift. Pair it with C major and F major for the classic I–vi–IV–V loop.
Changing to and from A minor
- Move to C major by lifting the ring finger and placing the index on the B string 1st fret while the middle stays on the D string 2nd fret.
- Move to E minor by shifting the middle and ring fingers to the A and D strings 2nd fret and leaving the other strings open.
Which voicing to use
The open position gives the root A in the bass and is the easiest to grab. The 5th fret barre shape repeats the same voicing an octave higher, while the Amin/C inversion puts C in the bass for a darker, less stable sound.
Other A chords
Common questions
How is A minor written?
A minor is written Am, Amin, A−, or Ami. The root is A, and no enharmonic spelling is used.
What is the difference between A minor and A major?
A minor lowers the third from C♯ to C. That single note changes the chord from major to minor and gives it a sadder quality.
Why is the low E string muted in the open A minor shape?
The low E is a chord tone, but muting it keeps the bass note as A. Letting it ring would create an A minor/E inversion, which is a different voicing.
Can A minor be played as a barre chord?
Yes, the 5th fret barre shape is A minor with the root on the A string. It is useful when you need a higher register or a consistent barre progression.