Chords in A Minor
Am, Bdim, C, Dm, Em, F and G, why E7 shows up so often, and three progressions to play
A minor is the relative minor of C major: same seven notes, same seven chords, with Am as the new home. The chords in A minor are Am, Bdim, C, Dm, Em, F and G.
In real songs Em is often replaced by E or E7. That chord comes from the A harmonic minor scale, and it makes the return to Am much stronger.
All the Chords in A Minor
This is the natural minor version of the key, built on A B C D E F G.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | 7th chord | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i | Am | A C E | Am7 | Tonic: the home chord |
| ii° | Bdim | B D F | Bm7b5 | Leads to v (or V) |
| III | C | C E G | Cmaj7 | Relative major |
| iv | Dm | D F A | Dm7 | Moves away from home |
| v | Em | E G B | Em7 | Mild pull to i (V7 is stronger) |
| VI | F | F A C | Fmaj7 | Bright lift, often before VII |
| VII | G | G B D | G7 | Leads to III or back to i |
Seventh chords suit A minor well: Am7 - Dm7 - Fmaj7 - G7 is a smooth, jazzy way to play the same harmony.
A Minor Chord Shapes
Am, C, Dm, Em and G are open chords, so A minor is one of the easiest keys on guitar. F is the only barre. E7 is shown last because you will need it in many songs.
Am - Dm - Em - F, One Bar Each
The i, iv, v and VI chords of A minor. The F at the end is the bright moment of the loop.
Three Progressions in A Minor
One with the borrowed E major chord, two with the natural minor chords only.
Andalusian Cadence: Am - G - F - E
A descending line, A G F E, with E major at the bottom. You hear it in Hit the Road Jack and all over flamenco. Strum it hard, or fingerpick it with a steady bass.
i-iv-v: Am - Dm - Em
The minor version of the three-chord trick. Swap Em for E7 at the end of a phrase and you will hear the difference the G# makes.
Full page: chords in five keys and songs
i-VI-VII: Am - F - G
Am - F - G climbs back up to Am, a rock staple with a big, open sound. It works at any tempo, from slow ballads to fast punk.
Tips for Playing in A Minor
- Five of the seven chords are open. When the F barre slows you down, use Fmaj7 (xx3210): it fits almost every song in A minor.
- For lead playing, the A minor pentatonic at the 5th fret is the first scale most guitarists learn, and it fits every chord in this key.
- When a song uses E or E7, switch to the harmonic minor scale over that chord to match its G#.
Go Further
- Chords in C major, the relative major key
- A minor scale on the fretboard
- How to find the key of a song
- Circle of fifths, to see how the keys connect
- Transpose chords to another key
- All chord progressions
Chords in other keys: E minor · G major · C major · D major · F major · A major · E major
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What chords are in the key of A minor?
Am (i), Bdim (ii°), C (III), Dm (iv), Em (v), F (VI) and G (VII). Many songs also use E or E7 as the V chord.
Why do songs in A minor use E major instead of Em?
E major contains G#, a half step below A. That leading tone pulls strongly to Am. It comes from the A harmonic minor scale, where the seventh note is raised.
What is the relative major of A minor?
C major. The two keys share every note and every chord, so a song can move between Am and C very naturally.
What is the v chord in A minor?
In the natural minor scale it is Em. With the harmonic minor scale it becomes E or E7, the version most songs use at cadences.
