A minor seventh chord (Am7) on piano
The A minor seventh chord (Am7) on piano has 4 notes: A, C, E, and G (A, C, E, G). With the right hand, use fingers 1-2-3-5; with the left hand, 5-3-2-1 (1 is the thumb). On the keyboard below, the root (A) has the strongest color; each key shows the note name and the degree.
- Notes
- ACEG
- Formula
- 1♭35♭7
How to play Am7 on piano
Root position · From low to high: A C E G
Right hand: 1-2-3-5 Left hand: 5-3-2-1
Fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little finger. The small dot marks middle C (C4). Tap a key to hear the note.
Am7 chord inversions
Inverting a chord means putting another of its notes in the bass (the lowest key) without changing the notes. Inversions shorten the way your hand travels from one chord to the next and slightly change the color of the sound.
-
1st inversion (Am7/C)
Am7/C: C (♭3) in the bass
From low to high: C E G A
-
2nd inversion (Am7/E)
Am7/E: E (5) in the bass
From low to high: E G A C
-
3rd inversion (Am7/G)
Am7/G: G (♭7) in the bass
From low to high: G A C E
Notes and intervals of Am7
Am7 (A minor seventh) is built from 4 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:
- A · 1 · root
- C · ♭3 · minor third
- E · 5 · perfect fifth
- G · ♭7 · minor seventh
About the minor seventh chord
A minor chord with a seventh: less dramatic than a plain minor, and softer. It is the ii of the ii–V–I progression (Dm7 → G7 → Cmaj7), found in jazz, bossa, soul and funk; in pop it often replaces the simple minor chord without anyone noticing.
Other A chords
- A
- Am
- A7
- A7M
- Am7
- Am7(b5)
- A°
- A°7
- A+
- Asus2
- Asus4
- A7sus4
- A5
- Aadd9
- A6
- Am6
- A9
- Am(add9)
- Am9
- A7M(9)
- Am(7M)
- A7M(#5)
- A7(b9)
- A6(9)
- Am6(9)
- A11
- Am11
- A13
- Am13
- A7(#9)
- A7(#11)
- A7(b13)
- A7(#5)
- A7M(#11)
- A9sus4
Minor seventh: other roots
Chords that go with Am7
As the ii of a ii–V–I, Am7 leads up a fourth to the dominant and lands on the major seventh chord:
Arpeggio
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the Am7 chord on piano?
Am7 (A minor seventh) has the notes A, C, E, G. The formula is 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7: root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh.
How do you play Am7 on piano?
Find the A key and add the other notes above it: A, C, E, G. Play them all together. With the right hand, use fingers 1-2-3-5; with the left hand, 5-3-2-1.
What are the inversions of Am7?
1st inversion (Am7/C): C E G A; 2nd inversion (Am7/E): E G A C; 3rd inversion (Am7/G): G A C E.
What does Am7 mean?
Am7 is the chord symbol for A minor seventh. A minor chord with a seventh: less dramatic than a plain minor, and softer. It is the ii of the ii–V–I progression (Dm7 → G7 → Cmaj7), found in jazz, bossa, soul and funk; in pop it often replaces the simple minor chord without anyone noticing.
Is the Am7 chord the same on piano and keyboard?
Yes. The notes and inversions are the same on any keyboard instrument: acoustic piano, digital piano, keyboard, organ or synthesizer.