A Minor Chord
The A minor chord uses A, C and E. Press those notes together and you have Am. Keep the root and fifth, then change only the middle note to hear how a minor chord differs from a major one.
- Notes: A-C-E
- Symbol: Am
- Three positions
Where are the notes?
All three notes are white keys. Lowering the middle note of A major from C sharp to C is enough to get this sound.
A is the root. C is three semitones above it, a minor third. E is seven semitones above the root. If the written chord symbol has a small m, such as Am, the third is the note you should check first. Minor Chord gives the general formula.
How do the inversions work?
- Root position: A-C-E, with A lowest.
- First inversion: C-E-A, with C lowest.
- Second inversion: E-A-C, with E lowest.
When C is the lowest note in the whole arrangement, write Am/C. With E in the bass, write Am/E. An inversion changes the register and bass line, while the note set stays A-C-E.
Where does Am fit?
A minor is the home triad in A natural minor. It is also the sixth chord in C major. In that major key, the same notes have a different role because the melody and surrounding chords point elsewhere.
Try Am-Dm-Em-Am. These four chords come from the A natural-minor scale. The final Am repeats the first chord, so listen for the return after the middle two. If you later replace the chord on scale degree 5 with its major form, you will introduce a raised seventh from harmonic minor.
What changes in A major?
Raise C to C sharp; keep A and E. You get A-C sharp-E. Play both chords at the same volume, then alternate their thirds alone. The single changed key is the reliable distinction, even when tempo or instrument color changes.
A short practice loop
Play A-C-E together, then C-E-A. Name the new lowest note before pressing "Hear" again. Return to root position, change C to C sharp, and say whether the result is major or minor.