A Minor
Open PositionThe standard open Am — one of the first chords most guitarists learn. Mute the low E string and let the A and high e strings ring open.
A Minor
5th Fret (Em-shape Barre)Full six-string Em-shape barre at the 5th fret. A warm, full voicing with the root anchored on the low E string.
A Minor
7th Fret (4-String)A four-string voicing using the Dm-shape at the 7th position. Clean and articulate — great for fingerpicking and arpeggios.
A Minor
8th Fret (Triad)Compact three-note Am triad on the top strings. Bright and cutting — ideal for chord melody or high-register accents over a full band.
A Minor
12th Fret (Am-shape Barre)Am-shape barre at the 12th fret — the same fingering as the open chord, one octave higher. Useful for high-register chord stabs.
Tips for Playing the Am Chord
Arch your fingers
Make sure your ring and middle fingers arch over the high e string so it rings clearly. Accidentally touching the e string with the ring finger is the most common buzzing issue with open Am.
Mute the low E string
The low E string is not part of the open Am chord. Let the side of your thumb touch it lightly or simply avoid hitting it when strumming.
Am → C switch is instant
To move from Am to C major, keep your index and middle fingers in place and just add your ring finger to the A string at the 3rd fret. This pivot is one of the most useful transitions in beginner guitar.
Build toward the 5th-fret barre
The Em-shape barre at the 5th fret produces the same Am chord with the root in the bass. Practice transitioning between the open Am and this barre version to develop barre chord strength.
Relative major is C
Am is the relative minor of C major — they share the same notes. If you are comfortable with C major shapes, you can find Am voicings nearby on the fretboard.
Common progressions
In the key of A minor: Am → F → C → G is a widely used pop progression. In the key of C major, Am functions as the vi chord. The progression C → G → Am → F is one of the most popular sequences in modern music.
About the Am Chord on Guitar
The A minor chord is built from three notes: A (the root), C (the minor 3rd), and E (the perfect 5th). It is the relative minor of C major, sharing all the same notes. The open Am shape is one of the first chords taught to beginners — three fingers, two open strings, and immediate musical results. Am is a cornerstone chord in rock, pop, folk, classical, and flamenco guitar. This page covers five practical voicings: the classic open position, an Em-shape full barre at the 5th fret, a four-string Dm-shape voicing at the 7th fret, a compact high-register triad, and the Am-shape barre at the 12th fret. Every diagram is interactive with real acoustic guitar sound.
- 015 Am chord shapes from beginner to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Real acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Open position, Em-shape barre, and compact triad voicings
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the A Minor chord and their role in the major scale.
Every minor chord follows this same formula — root, minor third, perfect fifth.