Chords

Am

The first minor chord — sad in three notes.

A C E · 1 ♭3 5

A minor is the go-to first minor chord: lower one note of a major triad and the whole mood turns from happy to sad.

Every voicing on the neck

The idea

A triad with a ♭3

Am is A C E — root, ♭3 and perfect 5th. Flattening the 3rd (C instead of C#) is the single change that turns major into minor.

Notes: R ♭3 5 = A C E.
The ♭3 (C) is what makes it sad, not happy.
Only the 3rd differs between A major and A minor.

Where it lives

The vi of C major

Am is the vi chord in C major and the i chord in A minor — the most common minor chord in beginner songs and the emotional anchor of countless progressions.

Use it as vi in C major or i in A minor.
Central to C–G–Am–F and Am–F–C–G.
Add a ♭7 (G) and it becomes the smooth Am7.

One flattened third is the whole difference between joy and sadness — that's the minor chord.

Practice it in the app

Interactive fretboard, backing tracks, tuner & more

MoreThanModes.com · Visual. Clear. Musical.