Am guitar chord
The A minor chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in Am
- Notes
- A – C – E
- Formula
- 1 – b3 – 5
- Name
- A minor
AmA · C · E
3 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- Open
- E shape · 5th fret
- D shape · 7th fret
What to play over Am
Start with the chord's own notes — A, C, E — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- A minor pentatonic scale
The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.
- A Dorian mode
A minor with a brighter 6th — when the chord is a ii.
- A natural minor scale
The natural minor, when the chord is the song’s home chord (i).
- A Phrygian mode
Dark and Spanish-sounding, with the ♭2 — when the chord is a iii.
Questions
What notes are in a Am chord?
Am has 3 notes: A, C, E. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – b3 – 5.
What scale goes with Am?
A minor pentatonic scale is the place to start. The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.