Am7 Chord (A minor 7th) on Guitar
Am7 (A minor 7th) is made of the notes A – C – E – G. The easiest guitar fingering is x02010 (low E to high e; x = muted, 0 = open). It needs only 2 fingers, which makes it a good chord for beginners.
Easiest shape
Alternative shape
Higher position
How to play Am7
- Play the 5th string (A) open (A).
- Press the 4th string (D) at fret 2 (E).
- Play the 3rd string (G) open (G).
- Press the 2nd string (B) at fret 1 (C).
- Play the 1st string (high e) open (E).
- Do not play the 6th string (low E).
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string (low E) | x (mute) | - | |
| 5th string (A) | 0 (open) | A | R |
| 4th string (D) | 2 | E | 5 |
| 3rd string (G) | 0 (open) | G | b7 |
| 2nd string (B) | 1 | C | b3 |
| 1st string (high e) | 0 (open) | E | 5 |
What is a A minor 7th chord?
A minor 7th chord is a minor triad with a minor seventh added on top.
Notes and formula. Am7 contains A, C, E, G. Counted from the root A, that is R (root), b3 (minor 3rd), 5 (perfect 5th), b7 (minor 7th).
Sound. Mellow, warm and relaxed. It is minor without the sadness of a plain minor triad.
Where it is used. Everywhere in funk, soul, R&B, jazz and lo-fi. It is the ii chord in jazz ii-V-I progressions and a common substitute for the plain minor chord.
Tips for playing Am7
Many minor 7th shapes are easier than the minor chord itself because they lift a finger. Try swapping Am for Am7 in a song you know.
Common mistake: Treating m7 and maj7 as the same. The "m" means the third is minor; the 7 means the seventh is a minor seventh.
Keys that contain Am7
Am7 is a diatonic chord, meaning it occurs naturally without accidentals, in these keys:
- C major – vi chord
- F major – iii chord
- G major – ii chord
- A minor – i chord
- D minor – v chord
- E minor – iv chord
Try it in a progression: browse chord progressions for every key.
Scales to play over Am7
Related chords
Am7 chord FAQ
What notes are in a Am7 chord?
Am7 (A minor 7th) contains the notes A, C, E, G. The formula is R–b3–5–b7 relative to the root A.
How do you play Am7 on guitar?
The most common shape for Am7 is x02010, read from the low E string to the high e string (x = muted, 0 = open, numbers = frets). It needs only 2 fingers, which makes it a good chord for beginners.
Is Am7 an easy guitar chord?
It is rated beginner. It needs only 2 fingers, which makes it a good chord for beginners.
Which keys contain Am7?
Am7 is a diatonic chord in C major (vi), F major (iii), G major (ii), A minor (i), D minor (v), E minor (iv).
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