Am7 Chord on Guitar (A minor seventh)
Am7 is a minor seventh chord with a soft, smooth and a little melancholic sound. It contains the notes A – C – E – G (minor chord + minor seventh). Below you will find 3 ways to play it on guitar.
How to play Am7
Position 1: x 0 2 0 1 0
- low E: don't play
- A: open
- D: fret 2
- G: open
- B: fret 1
- high E: open
Position 2: 5 7 5 5 5 5
- low E: fret 5
- A: fret 7
- D: fret 5
- G: fret 5
- B: fret 5
- high E: fret 5
Position 3: x x 7 9 8 8
- low E: don't play
- A: don't play
- D: fret 7
- G: fret 9
- B: fret 8
- high E: fret 8
The first shape is an open chord: it uses open strings, so it is the easiest way to play Am7 and rings out the most. Strum only the strings that are not marked with an x.
Chord theory
A minor seventh chord adds a minor seventh to a minor triad. It keeps the darker colour of the minor chord but sounds softer and more open.
Degrees: 1 = A, ♭3 = C, 5 = E, ♭7 = G
Using Am7 in songs
Minor sevenths are everywhere in soul, R&B, jazz and bossa nova. A minor chord in a song can often be replaced by its minor seventh version to make it sound smoother.