Piano chords · Minor chord
Am piano chord (A minor)
Am is a minor chord with 3 notes. It sounds darker, more wistful. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
A – C – E · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Am
Am is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5):
- A, the root
- C, the minor third
- E, the fifth
Every note is a white key, which makes Am an easy chord to find and play.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on A, 3 on C, 5 on E.
- Left hand: 5 on A, 3 on C, 1 on E.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | A – C – E |
| 1st inversion | C – E – A |
| 2nd inversion | E – A – C |
Where Am belongs
Am is the ii chord in G major, the iii chord in F major and the vi chord in C major, and the home chord of A minor. Its relative major is C, which shares two of its notes.
A is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (C becomes C♯), which turns it from dark to bright.
Hear it in a progression
Am – F – C – G: i – VI – III – VII, a classic minor-key progression.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Am chord?
Am (A minor) is made of A, C and E: the root, minor third and fifth.
How do you play Am on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on A, 3 on C, 5 on E, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on A, 3 on C, 1 on E.
What's the difference between Am and A?
A is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (C becomes C♯), which turns it from dark to bright.