A minor seventh (Am7) chord on piano

Minor seventh chord (a minor triad plus a minor seventh) on A: the notes of the Am7 chord are A – C – E – G.

Root position: A3 – C4 – E4 – G4

What the Am7 chord sounds like

A minor seventh chord is softer than a plain minor chord – the minor seventh fills out the sound. In jazz it is the ii of the ii–V–I, in pop and soul a common colour chord.

Notes of the Am7 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	A	root
3	C	minor third (3 semitones)
5	E	perfect fifth (7 semitones)
7	G	minor seventh (10 semitones)

Root position and inversions

An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.

Root position

A3 – C4 – E4 – G4

1st inversion

C4 – E4 – G4 – A4

2nd inversion

E4 – G4 – A4 – C5

3rd inversion

G4 – A4 – C5 – E5

Which keys is it in?

The Am7 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

A minor: i7 (tonic)
D minor: v7 (dominant)
E minor: iv7 (subdominant)
F major: iii7
C major: vi7
G major: ii7

Similar chords and substitutes

If Am7 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Cmaj7 – relative major seventh: three shared notes
D7 – in a ii–V, this is the dominant that follows

Same notes

C6 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

Am – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

Am9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Am7 chord?

A, C, E, G. The root is A; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh.

How do I play the Am7 chord on piano?

In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.

How is the Am7 chord written?

The chord symbol is Am7, and its full name is A minor seventh.