Piano chord
A Minor Chord
Am is a minor chord built on A. It contains the notes A – C – E.
Am
Also written: Amin, A-
- A
- C
- E
Notes in Am
Count up from A using the intervals below. The formula shows each note relative to the A major scale.
| Notes | Intervals | Formula | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Root | 1 | 0 |
| C | Minor 3rd | ♭3 | 3 |
| E | Perfect 5th | 5 | 7 |
How to play Am on piano
- Right hand: fingers 1–3–5 (thumb on A).
- Left hand: fingers 5–3–1 (little finger on the lowest note).
- Press the keys together, then try playing them one at a time as an arpeggio.
Am inversions
An inversion puts a different note of Am at the bottom. The notes stay the same, the colour and voice leading change.
Root position
AmA – C – E
1st inversion
Am/CC – E – A
2nd inversion
Am/EE – A – C
About minor chords
Lower the middle note by one semitone and everything shifts inward. Minor chords carry weight, longing, and emotional depth.
Sound: Melancholic & introspective
Songs that use it
- Someone Like You · AdelePop
- Hurt · Johnny CashCountry
- Yesterday · The BeatlesRock
Keys that contain Am
Am is built only from notes of these keys. The Roman numeral shows its role in each key.
Hear Am with different sounds and compare it with other chords in the interactive builder.
Open in the chord builderPractising on an acoustic piano that sounds off?
If chords sound sour even when you play the right notes, the piano is probably out of tune. Our technicians tune pianos across Israel.