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Am7(Minor 7th Chord)

A minor triad with a minor seventh. Smooth, soulful sound central to jazz and soul music.

Notes
A – C – E – G
Intervals (semitones)
0 – 3 – 7 – 10
Type
7th Chord

🎹 Am7 on Piano

Press highlighted keys simultaneously to play the Am7 chord.

R
A(Root (R))
2
C(Minor 3rd (♭3))
3
E(Perfect 5th)
4
G(Minor 7th (♭7))

🎸 Am7 on Guitar

The Am7 chord uses notes A, C, E, G. Build a voicing by finding these notes on any strings — root on the 6th string is a common starting point for barre chord shapes.

Interval Analysis

DegreeInterval NameSemitonesNote in A
RootRoot (R)0A
3rdMinor 3rd (♭3)3C
5thPerfect 5th7E
7thMinor 7th (♭7)10G

About the A Minor 7th Chord

The Am7 chord (A Minor 7th) consists of 4 notes: A, C, E, G. A minor triad with a minor seventh. Smooth, soulful sound central to jazz and soul music.

To build any minor 7th chord, apply intervals of 0, 3, 7, 10 semitones above the root. Starting from A: the notes land on A, C, E, G.

Playing Am7 on Piano

Press A, C, E, G simultaneously. In root position, A is lowest. First inversion places C in the bass for a lighter sound; second inversion uses E as the bass note.

Common Chord Progressions Using Am7

  • I–IV–V: Am7 – Dm7 – Em7 (blues and rock)
  • I–V–vi–IV: Am7 – E – F#m – D (pop staple)
  • I–vi–IV–V: Am7 – F#m – D – E (50s progression)

The Am7 Chord in Context

As a minor 7th chord, Am7 is the tonic (I) in the key of A major. It also appears as the IV chord in E major, and as the V chord in D major — making it one of the most important chords across all of Western music.

Other A Chords

A
Major
Am
Minor
A7
Dominant 7th
Amaj7
Major 7th
Adim
Diminished
Aaug
Augmented

Minor 7th Chord in All 12 Keys

Cm7C#m7Dm7D#m7Em7Fm7F#m7Gm7G#m7Am7A#m7Bm7
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🎵 A Scale
Notes that fit Am7
🎶 Songs
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FAQ

Am7 Chord — Frequently Asked Questions

What notes are in the Am7 chord?
The A Minor 7th chord contains: A, C, E, G. These notes are derived by applying the minor 7th interval formula (0–3–7–10 semitones) to the root note A.
What is the Am7 chord used for?
A minor triad with a minor seventh. Smooth, soulful sound central to jazz and soul music. The Am7 chord is used across pop, rock, jazz, and classical music. As the I chord in the key of A major, it functions as the most stable resting point in progressions.
How do you play Am7 on piano?
On piano, play A, C, E, G simultaneously. In root position, A is the lowest note. Inversions move the bass note up — first inversion has C lowest, second inversion has E lowest.
How many notes are in a minor 7th chord?
A minor 7th chord has 4 notes: A, C, E, G (in A). It is a 7th chord, extending beyond the basic triad.
What is the difference between A major and A minor?
The A major chord (A–C#–E) uses a major third (4 semitones), giving it a bright, happy sound. The A minor chord (A–C–E) uses a minor third (3 semitones), giving it a darker, emotional sound.
What key does Am7 belong to?
Am7 naturally serves as the I chord in the key of A major. It also appears as IV in the key of E major, and as V in the key of D major.
Can I play Am7 on ukulele?
Yes. The ukulele uses GCEA tuning with 4 strings. The Am7 chord notes (A, C, E, G) can be fretted on a ukulele, though the shapes differ from guitar due to the 4-string layout and shorter scale.
What chords go well with Am7?
In the key of A major, Am7 pairs naturally with D major (IV), E major (V), and F#m (vi). The classic I–IV–V (Am7–D–E) is the foundation of blues, country, and rock.
What is a chord inversion of Am7?
An inversion places a non-root note in the bass. Am7 root position: A in bass. First inversion: C in bass. Second inversion: E in bass. Inversions create smoother bass line movement without changing the harmony.
How do I memorize the notes in a minor 7th chord?
Remember the formula: 0–3–7–10 semitones from root. For Am7: start on A, add 3 semitones, then 7 semitones, then 10 semitones. Practicing this across all 12 roots builds instant recognition of any minor 7th chord.