Am Guitar Chord: 2 Easy Ways to Play It and More

The Am chord is comprised of the notes A, C, and E

In terms of intervals, it has a root, a minor 3rd, and a perfect 5th

It can also be named or notated as Am, A-, Amin, or A minor.

If you are just starting out on guitar or need a refresher on this chord, stick around.

In this article, I will show you the easiest ways of playing this chord on guitar, and give you some tips and tricks to make it work out as it should.

After leaving this page you will have learned the must-know shapes of this triad, and also a lot about how it works in context with other chords.

Hey, I will even give you a fretboard diagram so you can work out your own voicing!

Let’s get to it.

Basic shape

The secret to playing the Dm chord is learning how much force you have to apply to the strings for them to ring properly without getting tired or making your fingers hurt.

This is one of the easiest open chords to play on the guitar, however, take your time and try to get a good sound out of it.

It is a great starting point to build finger stamina and dexterity.

Here are some tips for getting it sounding right:

• Fret with the tip of your fingers
• Press the strings near the fret wire
• Learn how much pressure is the minimum required
• Have the thumb from your fretting hand at the middle or lower back part of the neck
• Arch your fingers
• If it hurts, take a break!

Am Guitar Chord: 2 Easy Ways of Playing It and More

2 easy ways of playing the Am chord

Although the open version of this chord is one of the easiest you will find, having alternatives is always good.

Both these voicings are just broken versions of the basic form of the chord, but they work great as they are since they have all the important notes in them.

They might sound a bit lacking, though. But use them as stepping stones.

For the first alternative, you can just place your 2 finger over the 4th string to prevent it from ringing when you strum.

Try them out to get your fingers prepared for the harder challenges ahead.

Open voicings of the Am chord

If you are looking for alternative ways of playing this chord, or for alternative sounds, these open voicings are some of my favorites:

These use some open strings, so these shapes are not movable across the fretboard.

Moveable voicings of the Am chord

As their name implies, these moveable voicings can be shifted along the neck getting you different chords of the same quality.

The root note of the chord, for these voicings, as you can see,  is defined by the lowest note played.

The first one with the barre is a very common shape you will probably end up using a lot through your guitar journey.

Something important to know is that you only need to fret the 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings with your 1 finger properly since the 5th and 4th strings are fretted in front of the bar.

Am chord fretboard map

You can use this fretboard map to come up with your own chord voicings.

Just remember that you will need at least one of each chord note for it to be outlined properly.

Songs to practice the Am chord

Guns N’ Roses – Don’t Cry

Bob Dylan – Knocking On Heaven’s Door

The Beatles – Let It Be

Scales and modes that have the Am chord, and their chords

The following scales and modes have this chord inside them.

This means that it will “fit” among their other chords, however, given the context, the feeling that it gives will be shifted.

In some of these scales it will sound like a resting point, and in others more like a tension agent.

Am minor scale chords, Am is i

i	iiº	III	iv	v	VI	VII
Am	Bdim	C	Dm	Em	F	G

G major scale chords, Am is ii

I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi	viiº
G	Am	Bm	C	D	Em	F#dim

F major scale chords, Am is iii

I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi	viiº
F	Gm	Am	Bb	C	Dm	Edim

E minor scale chords, Am is iv

i	iiº	III	iv	v	VI	VII
Em	F#dim	G	Am	Bm	C	D

D minor scale chords, Am is v

i	iiº	III	iv	v	VI	VII
Dm	Edim	F	Gm	Am	Bb	C

C major scale chords, Am is vi

I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi	viiº
C	Dm	Em	F	G	Am	Bdim

B Phrygian scale chords, Am is vii

i	II	III	iv	vº	VI	vii
Bm	C	D	Em	F#dim	G	Am

Inversions of the Am chord

The inversions of a chord are just a different order for the notes that comprise them.

They are notated with a / before the indication of the note that should be used as the bass.

Triad chords have, naturally 2 inversions.

Am inversions are:

• Am/C
• Am/E

Extensions of the Am chord

Extensions are extra notes you can add to the chord to spice it up.

To know exactly which notes you can use you will have to check the key and scale you are playing in.

Some of the most common extensions of the Am chord are:

• Am6
• Am7
• Am9
• Am11