×AEACE
Fig. 1 · Am · open

guitar chord

Am

A1C♭3E5

The major triad with its third lowered by a half step.

on ukuleleon pianothe scale

Every fingering that fits a hand

Fig. 2

x02210

open

Fig. 3

502550

moderate

Fig. 4

x02550

easy

Fig. 5

x0221x

open

5
Fig. 6

577555

moderate · barre

What is true of it

Am is A, C and E — 1, b3 and 5 counted from A.

On an instrument that cannot reach all 3, the 5 goes first, in that order.

The easiest of the 5 fingerings below is x02210: 3 fingers, held at the 1st fret.

2 of them use open strings, which is what makes a shape quiet to change to.

1 of the 5 need a barre.

1 string stays silent.

Where its notes are on the neck

EADGBE12345678910111251b351b35151b31b35b35151b35
Fig. 7 — first 12 frets

The brass dots are A, the root. Everything else is a chord tone with its degree printed in it.

With a different note underneath

first inversion

Am/C

x32210

second inversion

Am/E

002210

An inversion is the same chord with a different note lowest. The name changes to a slash name because the bass is what a listener hears as the foundation.

A in other shapes

AmajorAdimdiminishedAaugaugmentedA5power chordAsus2suspended secondAsus4suspended fourth

CmC♯mD♭mDmD♯mE♭mEmFmall 374