Am chord (A minor) on bass
Am (A minor) has three notes: A, C and E. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. In major keys, Am is the ii chord in G major, the iii in F major and the vi in C major.
How to play Am on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Am |
|---|---|
| Also written | Amin, A- |
| Notes | A C E |
| Formula | 1 b3 5 |
| Intervals | root, minor third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Minor chord |
Am across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 0 E (5), fret 5 A (1), fret 8 C (flat 3), fret 12 E (5), fret 17 A (1), fret 20 C (flat 3), fret 24 E (5).
- A string: fret 0 A (1), fret 3 C (flat 3), fret 7 E (5), fret 12 A (1), fret 15 C (flat 3), fret 19 E (5), fret 24 A (1).
- D string: fret 2 E (5), fret 7 A (1), fret 10 C (flat 3), fret 14 E (5), fret 19 A (1), fret 22 C (flat 3).
- G string: fret 2 A (1), fret 5 C (flat 3), fret 9 E (5), fret 14 A (1), fret 17 C (flat 3), fret 21 E (5).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Questions
What notes are in the Am chord?
Am (A minor) has three notes: A, C and E. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. A is the root, C is the minor third and E is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Am on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 b10, root on the E string, fret 17. Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
What key is Am in?
In major keys, Am is the ii chord in G major, the iii in F major and the vi in C major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Am and A?
Am has a minor 3rd, C. A major raises it a half step to C#. The root and 5th stay the same.