Aminor

Am is A, C and E, a minor triad. The shape this page opens on is written x02210, lowest string first.

Note by note. A is the root, C is the minor third and E is the fifth.

Also written Amin, A- or A minor. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 11 common shapes for Am on the guitar, and 49 derived voicings in 2 families.

One note away. Change a single note of Am and you have A (with one note moved), Adim (with one note moved), Asus2 (with one note moved), Asus4 (with one note moved), Am6 (with one note added) or Am7 (with one note added).

In which keys. Every note of Am belongs to C major (the vi), D minor (the v), E minor (the iv), F major (the iii), G major (the ii) and A minor (the i).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: x02210, x3221x, x02555, 5322x5, 577555, xx7555, x-0-7-9-10-8, x-x-7-9-10-8, x-x-10-9-10-8, x-12-10-9-10-x, x-12-14-14-13-12.

Under the hand. 2 of the 11 shapes here sit in open position, and the first uses 2 open strings with 1 left unplayed. 3 of the 11 need a barre. Together they cover the neck from the 1st fret to the 14th.

Triad. Three notes across one string set. Am has xxx210, xx221x, x0221x, x3221x, xx2210, x322xx, 0322xx, xx755x.

Open string. An open string left ringing against a fretted grip. Because it costs no finger, it sounds a note the closed shape has none left for -- a tension on top, or a pedal root underneath. Either a familiar grip with open strings added, or a shape so sparse the open strings carry the chord. These belong to their key rather than to a shape, so D, A, G and E have many and Eb a handful. Am has 0075xx.

What kind of chord this is. Am is a minor chord — root, minor third, fifth. minor chords on every root, and what they are for.

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.