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Am7 chord on guitar

Am7 (A minor seventh) is A, C, E and G. The easiest way to play it is the open Am7 chord, written x02010. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 2nd string, 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 2nd fret. Let the 5th, 3rd and 1st strings ring open. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

Am7

A minor seventh · A C E G · 1 ♭3 5 ♭7

  • Open position

    Open chord

    21AEGCE

    x02010

  • 5th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 6th string

    5fr131111AEGCEA

    575555

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are A, the root.

How to play Am7

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Open chord · Open position

    x02010
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 2nd string, 1st fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 2nd fret.
    • Let the 5th, 3rd and 1st strings ring open.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

  2. 2. Barre chord, root on the 6th string · 5th fret

    575555
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across all six strings at the 5th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 7th fret.

Notes in the Am7 chord

Am7 is A, C, E and G, and it sounds mellow and smooth, the everyday chord of R&B, soul and lo-fi. From A, count 3 half steps up to C, 4 more to E and 3 more to G. Its formula is 1 ♭3 5 ♭7. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with A lowest. See its inversions and keys on the Am7 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after Am7

D7xx0212Am7 to D7 is ii7 to V7, the first half of jazz’s ii–V–I.Fmaj7xx3210Am7 to Fmaj7 is i7 to VImaj7, the lift R&B and lo-fi loops are built on.Bm7x20202Am7 to Bm7 is ii7 to iii7, one step up in the same key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on A

AAmA7Amaj7Asus2Asus4Aadd9A9A6AdimAm7♭5Adim7Aaug

Minor seventh chords on other notes

Cm7C♯m7Dm7E♭m7Em7Fm7F♯m7Gm7G♯m7B♭m7Bm7

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Am7 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is the open Am7 chord, written x02010. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 2nd string, 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 2nd fret. Let the 5th, 3rd and 1st strings ring open. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

What notes are in the Am7 chord?

Am7 is A, C, E and G. In the shape written x02010, the 5th to 1st strings play A, E, G, C and E.

Is Am7 a barre chord?

It doesn't have to be: x02010 needs no barre. The barre shape (575555) plays it higher up the neck and moves to any root.

How many ways can you play Am7 on guitar?

This page shows two: x02010 (open position) and 575555 (5th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with Am7?

Yes. “Make a beat in A minor” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in A minor on Am F C G, the key where Am7 is the i7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in A minor

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in A minor on Am F C G, the key where Am7 is the i7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in A minorAll guitar chords

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