Am7 Chord
Am7 combines a minor triad with G, its flat seventh. In a ii-V-I it often starts the journey rather than ending it.
- Notes: A-C-E-G
- Symbol: Am7
- ii7 in G major
- Minor third and flat seventh
Am7
How to play an Am7 chord
Notes: A - C - E - GAm7
Root position
A - C - E - G1st inversion
C - E - G - A2nd inversion
E - G - A - C3rd inversion
G - A - C - E
Where does Am7 belong?
In G major, Am7 starts as ii7 before the dominant moves toward the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- The ii in ii-V-Iii7
The first step of the most common move in jazz, heading to G.
Am7ii7D7Gmaj7 - The relative minorvi7
Same notes as C major with a darker center.
Cmaj7Am7vi7Dm7G7 - Dorian vampi7
Two chords back and forth: the major IV gives A Dorian its brighter minor sound.
Am7i7D7 - A soft stand-iniii7
It shares three notes with Fmaj7, so it moves without leaving home.
Fmaj7Am7iii7Bbmaj7
Progressions to try
- Am7D7Gmaj7
Am7 begins a ii-V-I in G major; listen for the move through the dominant to the maj7 arrival.
- Cmaj7Am7Dm7G7
Here Am7 serves as vi7, keeping the phrase moving toward the following minor-seven chord.
- Am7D7
The two-chord Dorian vamp gives Am7 room to sound like a center without a final cadence.
- Fmaj7Am7Bbmaj7
In F major, Am7 acts as iii7 between the home and IVmaj7 chords.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with the open x02010 grip. Let the open strings ring and keep any strings marked x silent. The 575555 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, the open shape 0000 is the easiest place to start. The 5757 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play A-C-E-G. Move A up an octave to reach the first inversion, C-E-G-A; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
A is the root, C the minor third, E the fifth and G the flat seventh.
- Root position: A-C-E-G, with A lowest.
- First inversion: C-E-G-A, written Am7/C if C is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: E-G-A-C, written Am7/E if E is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: G-A-C-E, written Am7/G if G is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does Am7 differ from A7?
Keep A, E and G, then raise the third from C to C sharp. That turns Am7 into A7; listen to the one moving voice. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See A7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Am7
A - C - E - GA7
A - C# - E - G