A minor chord on piano
Am is a minor chord built on A. It uses the notes A - C - E and sounds darker, softer and more emotional.
- Notes
- A C E
- Formula
- 1 - ♭3 - 5
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 1
- Chord symbol
- Am
How to play Am step by step
- Find A. A is the white key between the second and third black keys of the group of three.
- Add C, 3 half steps above A.
- Add E, 7 half steps above A.
- Press all 3 keys together with fingers 1 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
Am inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Which keys use the Am chord?
Knowing where a chord lives helps you guess the next chord in a song. Am appears naturally in these keys:
Songs that use Am
Practice Am inside real music. These tutorials use it in the left-hand accompaniment:
- Für Elise (easy-intermediate, A minor)
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas (easy, C major)
- Turkish March (intermediate, A minor)
- In the Hall of the Mountain King (easy, A minor (simplified from B minor))
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A minor chord?
The A minor chord (Am) contains 3 notes: A, C, E. Its formula is 1 - ♭3 - 5.
How do you play Am on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on A and play A, C, E together using fingers 1 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 1.