A minor seventh chord (Am7)

A minor seventh is a 4-note minor seventh chord: A – C – E – G. It sounds relaxed, warm and a little melancholic. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele, with fingering and audio.

NotesA – C – E – G
Formula1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7
SymbolAm7 · Amin7 · A-7
TypeMinor seventh chord

A minor seventh on guitar

Open position
Barre at fret 5 (E shape)

How to place your fingers (open position)

Finger 2 (middle) on fret 2 of the 4th string (D).
Place finger 1 (index) at fret 1 on string 2 (B).
The 5th, 3rd and 1st strings are open.
Do not play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

The numbers inside the dots are the fingers of your left hand: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring and 4 pinky. The colored dots mark the root (A). The other positions let you change chords without jumping along the neck, or give you a higher-pitched sound.

A minor seventh on piano

In root position, play A – C – E – G from bottom to top with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 of your right hand. With your left hand you usually play just the root (A) or the root and the fifth.

Inversions

First inversion: C – E – G – A
Second inversion: E – G – A – C
Third inversion: G – A – C – E

A minor seventh on ukulele

Open position
From fret 2

Standard tuning G – C – E – A (the G string is the high one). Is your ukulele in tune? Use the ukulele tuner.

Notes and intervals of A minor seventh

A1 · root
C♭3 · minor third
E5 · perfect fifth
G♭7 · minor seventh

It's the second degree of the jazz ii–V–I progression and shows up in salsa, funk, neo soul and pop.

Progressions with Am7

The ii–V–I: ii7 – V7 – Imaj7

Am7 is the second degree of G major.

Two-chord vamp: i7 – IV7

A typical funk, soul and salsa groove.

Which keys contain A minor seventh?

Am7 belongs to 6 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).

Key	Degree
C major	vi7
F major	iii7
G major	ii7
D natural minor	v7
E natural minor	iv7
A natural minor	i7

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A minor seventh chord?

A minor seventh (Am7) has 4 notes: A (root), C (minor third), E (perfect fifth), G (minor seventh).

How do you play A minor seventh on guitar?

The easiest shape is in open position: x 0 2 0 1 0 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Place finger 2 (middle) on fret 2 of the 4th string (D). Place finger 1 (index) on fret 1 of the 2nd string (B). Play the 5th, 3rd, and 1st strings open. Do not play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

How do you write A minor seventh as a chord symbol?

It is written Am7; you may also see Amin7 or A-7. In letter notation, notes use letters: C = do, D = re, E = mi, F = fa, G = sol, A = la, and B = ti.

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