A Minor 7th Guitar Chord (Am7)
A minor 7th is a four-note chord built from A (the root), C (the minor third), E (the perfect fifth), and G (the minor seventh). It has a laid-back, understated color — moody without being heavy. Funk and R&B rhythm players practically live on chords like this. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.
Am7 chord shapes — standard tuning
How to play it
Place your index finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 1 and your middle finger on the D (4th) string at fret 2. Let the A (5th), G (3rd), and high E (1st) strings ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.
Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above — same notes, different neck positions and textures.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | A |
| ♭3 | minor third | C |
| 5 | perfect fifth | E |
| ♭7 | minor seventh | G |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see Am7 in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More A chords
Nearby minor 7th chords
Am7 FAQ
What notes are in Am7?
Am7 contains A, C, E, and G — the root (A), the minor third, the perfect fifth, and the minor seventh.
Is Am7 a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest Am7 shape (x-0-2-0-1-0) needs no barre — it uses 2 fingers plus open strings. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 5, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.
What is the easiest way to play Am7 on guitar?
Start with the open position shape x-0-2-0-1-0. Place your index finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 1 and your middle finger on the D (4th) string at fret 2. Let the A (5th), G (3rd), and high E (1st) strings ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.