A minor guitar chord
The relative minor of C major. Am shares two notes with C, which is why moving between them feels so natural.
Play it
Two ways to finger Am
Acoustic samples load on first play; a synth preview is used if they are still loading. Best with headphones.
Open Am
Start here
Am barre (5th fret)
Same chord, higher up the neck
Finger numbers are shown inside the dots. An X means “do not play this string”; an open circle means the string rings open. Audio uses acoustic guitar samples, with a synthesized fallback.
How to play Am
A minor is the relative minor of C major and one of the most useful open chords. It shares two notes with C, so moving between them feels natural.
The open Am shape uses the A, D, G, and B strings, with the high E open. The low E is usually left out. It is a soft, introspective chord that appears in countless songs in C major and A minor.
Am is the vi chord in C major and the home chord in A minor. It is also a great first minor chord because the shape is close to E major and C major, making transitions easier.
Fingering steps
- Put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string and your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the G string.
- Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the B string.
- Strum from the A string down, leaving the high E open.
- Check that the B string is clear and the low E is not ringing.
Why it sounds bad (and how to fix it)
The B string is muted
The ring finger on the G string may be touching the B string. Curl it and keep the B string fretted cleanly.
The low E rings
Am does not use the low E. Start your strum on the A string or mute the low E with your fretting hand.
The chord sounds weak
Make sure all four strings are ringing. The high E should be open, and the A string should be clear.
Practice drill
- Practice Am–C changes, keeping the index finger near the 1st fret.
- Play Am–F–C–G slowly and listen for the B string on each chord.
Use it in a progression
- Am – F – C – G (vi–IV–I–V in C)
- Am – C – G – D
FAQ
What is the difference between A major and A minor?
A major uses C# (the major third), while A minor uses C (the minor third). The fingering changes on the B string.
Is Am easier than C?
Many beginners find Am slightly easier because the fingers are less crowded and the high E stays open.
What songs use Am?
Am appears in many songs in C major. The Am–F–C–G progression is a good place to start.
This page uses standard chord voicings. If a fingering still buzzes, the problem is usually the hand position, not the diagram.