What notes are in the Am chord?

The Am chord consists of the notes: A, C, E.

Is the Am chord hard to play?

The Am chord is rated Beginner difficulty. It's a great chord to learn early on.

What type of chord is Am?

Am is a Minor chord. It sounds darker, more melancholic, and expressive.

BeginnerMinor

Am Chord

The Am is a minor chord that sounds darker, more melancholic, and expressive. Minor chords add emotional depth and drama. The lowered third gives them their characteristic bittersweet quality, making them essential for blues, rock, and emotional ballads.

Notes:ARoot (1)CMinor 3rd (b3)EPerfect 5th (5)

Open Position

Chord Diagrams

Open Position

No barre required

Barre Shape — Fret 5

Uses a barre chord technique

How to Play Am

Follow these steps for the open position fingering:

#	String	Instruction	Note
1	Low E (6th string)	✕Mute — do not play this string	–
2	A (5th string)	○Open — play the open string	C
3	D (4th string)	●Fret 2 with your middle finger	E
4	G (3rd string)	●Fret 2 with your ring finger	A
5	B (2nd string)	●Fret 1 with your index finger	C
6	High E (1st string)	○Open — play the open string	E

○ = Open string (no fingers needed)

✕ = Muted string (don't play)

● = Press your finger down firmly just behind the fret

Notes in Am

The Am chord is built from 3 distinct notes, each serving a harmonic role:

Root (1)

The root — gives the chord its name

Minor 3rd (b3)

The minor third — creates the darker sound

Perfect 5th (5)

The fifth — adds power and stability

Songs Using Am

These songs from our play-along library feature the Am chord:

Let It Be

The Beatles

beginner

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Bob Dylan

beginner

Wish You Were Here

Pink Floyd

Am Chord

Chord Diagrams

Open Position

Barre Shape — Fret 5

How to Play Am

Notes in Am

Songs Using Am

Other A Chords

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