A minor seventh chord (Am7)
The A minor seventh chord (Am7) is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad with a minor seventh on top, A, C, E and G (root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the ii7 in G major and the vi7 in C major; its relative is C major seventh, and E dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play A minor seventh on guitar
There are 3 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-0-2-0-1-0, open position, with A in the bass (fingers x-0-2-0-1-0).
- Voicing 2: 5-7-5-5-5-5, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 5, with A in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-12-14-12-13-12, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 12, with A in the bass.
Notes of the A minor seventh chord on the fretboard
A minor seventh has 4 notes: A, C, E and G. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): E (0) · G (3) · A (5) · C (8) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · C (3) · E (7) · G (10) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): E (2) · G (5) · A (7) · C (10)
- String 3 (G): G (0) · A (2) · C (5) · E (9) · G (12)
- String 2 (B): C (1) · E (5) · G (8) · A (10)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · G (3) · A (5) · C (8) · E (12)
Formula and intervals of A minor seventh
Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-3-7-10.
- A: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- C: Minor third (m3), 3 semitones above A
- E: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above A
- G: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above A
A minor seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 0-0-0-0; it sounds G, C, E and A.
A minor seventh on piano
- Keys: A4, C5, E5 and G5.
Inversions of A minor seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: A, C, E and G, with A in the bass.
- First inversion (Am7/C): C, E, G and A, with C in the bass.
- Second inversion (Am7/E): E, G, A and C, with E in the bass.
- Third inversion (Am7/G): G, A, C and E, with G in the bass.
Keys that use A minor seventh
A minor seventh appears in 6 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| G major (1 sharp) | ii7 | Supertonic |
| F major (1 flat) | iii7 | Mediant |
| C major (no sharps or flats) | vi7 | Submediant |
| A minor (no sharps or flats) | i7 | Tonic |
| E minor (1 sharp) | iv7 | Subdominant |
| D minor (1 flat) | v7 | Dominant |
Progressions with A minor seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in G major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Am7 – D7 – Gmaj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A minor seventh chord?
A, C, E and G: root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7.
Which keys use A minor seventh?
Mainly as the ii7 in G major and the vi7 in C major. In total it appears in 6 major and minor keys.
What is the relative of A minor seventh?
C major seventh: they share three of their four notes. In the key where C major seventh is Imaj7, A minor seventh is vi7; in a major key, the minor seventh chords are ii7, iii7 and vi7.