Am, minor chord
A, C and E
- Root
- A
- Minor third
- C
- Perfect fifth
- E
Formula
1 ♭3 5 (3, 7 half steps above A)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | A | C | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
A minor inversions
A minor has 2 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
Am
Root position
| Notes | A | C | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Am/C
First inversion
| Notes | C | E | A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Am/E
Second inversion
| Notes | E | A | C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with A minor
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. A minor appears as:
- i in A minor
- vi in C major
- ii in G major
- iii in F major
- iv in E minor
- v in D minor
How A minor is built
A is the root, C the minor third and E the perfect fifth.
A minor chord is a root, the minor third 3 half steps above it and the perfect fifth 7 half steps above it. Raise the middle note by one key and A minor becomes A major.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of A minor are A, C, E. That is why it is spelled A, C and E.
Find A minor yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 3
Tap the notes of A minor, in any octave and any order.
Practice A minor in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the A minor chord?
A minor (Am) has three notes: A, C and E. A is the root, C the minor third and E the perfect fifth.
What fingers do you use for A minor on piano?
In root position, play A, C and E with right hand fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of A minor?
A minor has 2 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (Am/C): C, E and A. Second inversion (Am/E): E, A and C.
What key is A minor in?
A minor is i in A minor, its home key. It also appears as vi in C major, ii in G major, iii in F major, iv in E minor and v in D minor.