How to play the Am7 chord on guitar
A minor seventh (Am7) in standard tuning (EADGBE). Play the shape x02010 from the low E string to the high E string. The chord tones are A, C, E, G, and the lowest sounding note is A.
Fingering chart
| String | Fret | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 6th (low E) | Muted | Not played |
| 5th (A) | Open | A |
| 4th (D) | 2 | E |
| 3rd (G) | Open | G |
| 2nd (B) | 1 | C |
| 1st (high E) | Open | E |
Notes and intervals
Formula 1 b3 5 b7. This shape sounds each chord tone.
| Note | Degree | Interval from A | In this shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Root (0 semitones) | Yes |
| C | b3 | Minor 3rd (3 semitones) | Yes |
| E | 5 | Perfect 5th (7 semitones) | Yes |
| G | b7 | Minor 7th (10 semitones) | Yes |
Changing chords from Am7
Am7 sounds five strings with one string muted: two fretted positions between frets 1 and 2, plus three open strings. The quickest changes leave fretted notes where they are, so the hand pivots instead of lifting off the neck. These are the chords in this library that share the most fretted notes with the Am7 shape.
- Am7 to C: keep two fretted notes in place (4th string fret 2, 2nd string fret 1), one new position to fret.
- Am7 to Am: keep two fretted notes in place (4th string fret 2, 2nd string fret 1), one new position to fret.
- Am7 to C7: keep two fretted notes in place (4th string fret 2, 2nd string fret 1), two new positions to fret.
- Am7 to A7: keep one fretted note in place (4th string fret 2), one new position to fret.