Am is a minor, spelled A, C and E. In Standard tuning (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4) the easiest shape is x02210, which sits at fret 1, spans 1 fret, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 string. 12 positions for it are shown below, from the nut up to fret 14.
Notes and intervals
Note
A
C
E
Interval
1P
3m
5P
12 ways to play it
Ordered by how hard they are to fret, easiest first, one per position on the neck. Fret numbers are relative to the position marked beside each grid.
x02210sits at fret 1, spans 1 fret, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 string577550sits at fret 5, needs a barre across 5 strings at fret 5 and lets 1 string ring open502550sits at fret 2, spans 3 frets and lets 2 strings ring openx0109100sits at fret 9, spans 1 fret, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 stringx0109108sits at fret 8, spans 2 frets, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 1 stringx01414130sits at fret 13, spans 1 fret, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 stringx079108sits at fret 7, spans 3 frets, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 1 stringx014141312sits at fret 12, spans 2 frets, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 1 string0010xxxsits at fret 10, needs no stretch at all, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 3 strings037550sits at fret 3, spans 4 frets and lets 2 strings ring open0151414xxsits at fret 14, needs a barre across 2 strings at fret 14, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 2 stringsx0221xsits at fret 1, spans 1 fret, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 2 strings
The five shapes
Every shape below is one of the five open chords moved up the neck, with a finger — or the nut — standing in for the open strings. Am turns up as an A shape and an E shape: A at the nut, E at fret 5.
A shapeAm as an A shape: the open shape itself, fingered x02210 against the nut.E shapeAm as an E shape: barre at fret 5, fingered 577555.
Keys Am belongs to
Am is diatonic to 24 of the 96 keys this app knows, playing a different role in each.