Am7 Chord on Guitar: Two-Finger Open Chord

Am7 is A minor with one finger lifted. Two fingers, five strings, and a chord that floats rather than resolves. If you can play A minor, Am7 takes one less finger.

Am7 is built from A, C, E, and G. The G is the minor 7th.

The Standard Am7 Fingering

• 1st string (high E): open
• 2nd string (B): 1st fret, index finger
• 3rd string (G): open
• 4th string (D): 2nd fret, middle finger
• 5th string (A): open
• 6th string (low E): do not play

Strum strings 1 through 5. The notes from low to high are A, E, G, C, E. All four notes of Am7, with the high E doubled.

How Am7 Differs From Am

One note. Am uses the ring finger on the 2nd fret of the G string to fret an A. Am7 leaves the G string open, which gives you G natural, the minor 7th. Lift the ring finger and Am becomes Am7.

Songs That Use Am7

• "Stairway to Heaven" uses Am7 in the descending intro.
• "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton.
• "Dust in the Wind." The chord change Am-Am7 is the foundation.
• Most coffeehouse pop. Am7 is a staple.

Why Am7 Sounds Soft

The minor 7th in Am7 doesn't pull as hard as a dominant 7th. Where A7 wants to resolve to D, Am7 just sits there, gently unresolved. The chord works as both a passing chord and a stable home chord depending on what surrounds it.

FAQ: Am7 Chord Questions

What's the difference between Am7 and Am?

One note. Am7 adds G (the minor 7th). Lift the ring finger off Am and you have Am7.

Is Am7 a real chord substitute for Am?

Often, yes. The two chords share three notes and have similar functions. Am7 sounds slightly more open and less final.

What chord follows Am7 most often?

D, Dm7, or G. The G to Am7 to D move is foundational in folk and pop.

Why does Am7 sound less sad than Am?

The added 7th softens the minor character. Pure minor chords (Am, Em, Dm) sound clearly sad. Minor 7th chords sound thoughtful or wistful, but rarely tragic.

Can I always use Am7 instead of Am?

Often. Especially in pop, folk, and jazz. In rock songs that hit Am as a stable, weighty chord, the simpler Am may sound stronger.