If you are a beginner guitar player there are several chords you will need to learn. And Am is one of them. So in this Am chord guitar lesson. I will give you a complete breakdown of everything you need to know about the Am chord.
Am Chord Guitar Lesson: The Ultimate Guide.
- How to Finger the Am Chord
- How many strings do you play on the Am chord
- What notes are in the Am chord
- How do you play an Am Barre chord on guitar
- What strings do you play when playing the Am Chord
- How to play the easy Am chord Guitar
- What’s the Difference Between Am and A Major
I set out to write about the Am, but little did I know I was going to write the ultimate guide to Am chord Guitar lesson. If you want to know everything about the Am guitar chord keep reading for more info….
How to Finger the Am Chord
Look at the Chord Diagram first then read exactly how to place your fingers. And keep reading for tips and techniques so that it will always sound great. When your playing the Am chord on guitar.
- Place your first finger on the 2nd string. The B String, at the 1st fret.
- Put your second finger on the 4th string, (D string) at the second fret.
- Then your third finger is on the G string, (3rd string) at the second fret.
- Strum from the fourth string down.
Pro Tips
When Playing the Am Chord you want to play on the tips of your fingers. And keep your fretting elbow in towards your body. Leave room between the guitar and your hand. See 10 things every beginner guitar player needs to know.
How Many Strings Do You Play on the Am Chord
When you play the Am chord in the first position. You want to play 5 strings. From the 5th string up to the first string.
You don’t want to play the 6th string. Which is the E string. Because it will make your Am chord sound terrible.
Starting out strumming. Simply aim for the top 5 strings. (5 4 3 2 1).
What Notes are in the Am Chord
The strings on the guitar are named. The names are also the pitch of the notes that the strings make. When the strings are played open.
Meaning when the strings are not fretted. Then also when you do place your finger on a string at different frets.
This is another note or pitch that you hear when the strings are fretted and you pick the string.
In the Am chord You are going to play the top 5 strings.
From the 5th string which is played open. This is the A note. Because when the string is in standard tuning. The open A string is tuned to the pitch of A.
The next string which is the D string is fretted at the second fret. With your second finger. And when you pick this string it is the pitch of the E note.
Then your third finger is fretting the G string also at the second fret. Which is the A note.
Your first finger is fretting the first fret of the B string. The second string. And when played, it is the pitch of the C note.
Don’t forget you are also playing the high E string. The first string. When strumming the Am chord on guitar.
So when playing the Am chord. You are playing the A E and C notes.
As you can see, there are 2 A notes and two E notes being played; When playing the chord Am.
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How Do You Play an Am Barre Chord on Guitar
Okay as you can see in the picture your going to use 3 fingers to make the Am barre chord.
- Your first finger is barred at the 5th fret. Across all the strings.
- Then Place your third finger on the 5th string at the seventh fret.
- On the fourth string place your fourth finger, also on the seventh fret.
- Strum all the strings.
Pro Tip – Use your second finger to press down on your first finger. This will help hold all the strings down.
What Strings Do You Play When Playing the Am Chord on Guitar
Your going to play the A string open. Which is the 5th string. And when I say open I mean without fretting the string.
Then you play the D string. Which is the 4th string. Fretted at the 2nd fret.
The 3rd string or G string is fretted also at the second fret.
And the B string is played. Which is the 2nd string. It’s fretted at the first fret.
The last string that is played is the first string, the E string.
That’s all the strings played, when your playing the Am chord.
Each key has different chords in the key. And for the Key of Am the chords are
What’s the Difference Between Am and A Major
Here are 5 facts about the difference between Am and A Major.
- Am notes are A E and C.
- The Notes in A Major chord are A E and C#
- The Am is made up of 1 3b and 5 notes
- A Major notes are 1 3 5
- A Major Chord is Always a Capital A by itself or A with a Capital Maj for Major. (capital M = Major).
- Am Small m = minor.
Related Article: 1645 Chord Progression.
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Related Questions
What’s Am Chord Progression
A really popular chord progression which includes the Am chord. Is the C Am F and G. For a perfect example see my Guitar Lesson on Alan Jackson’s song: You’ll Always Be My Baby.
What is the Relative Chord of Am
C Major is scale is the relative minor. For more about Major Chords See How to play G Major Chord.