Am7 chord
Mellow and smooth. Softer than a plain minor chord, and the backbone of soul, funk, and jazz comping.
A minor 7th · 2 voicings
Notes in Am7
How to Play Am7
Open position
x 0 2 0 1 0
Barre, Em7 shape
5 7 5 5 5 5
Numbers under each diagram are frets, string 6 (thickest) to string 1. x means don't play that string; 0 means play it open.
Where Am7 Is Used
Am7 occurs naturally in 3 major keys. Its roman numeral tells you the job it does in each — the same chord feels like home in one key and like tension in another.
| Key | Degree | Role |
|---|---|---|
| C major | vi | Relative minor — the darker centre |
| F major | iii | Mediant — a soft, in-between colour |
| G major | ii | Pre-dominant — sets up the V |
Progressions featuring Am7
- vi – IV – I – V — the pop-punk staple
- I – V – vi – IV — the most common progression in pop
- I – iii – IV – V — a bright, lifting movement
How Am7 Relates to Other Chords
Am7 contains exactly the same notes as C6 — the two are the same chord voiced from a different root, so one shape covers both.
Playing tips for Am7
Am7 has an open-position shape, which means some strings ring open and it is playable without barring. Press just behind the fret rather than on top of it, keep your fingertips arched so they do not deaden neighbouring strings, and strum only the strings the diagram marks as played.
If a string buzzes or sounds dead, the usual causes are a fingertip leaning against it, not quite enough pressure, or a finger too far behind the fret. Play each string one at a time to find which one is failing before adjusting the whole shape — and make sure your guitar is in tune first, since an out-of-tune string will make a correct shape sound wrong. Use our free online tuner to check.
Related Chords
Tune first
Chord shapes only sound right on a guitar that is in tune. Check yours in a few seconds.
Open the Free Guitar Tuner →