The Am7 chord is a basic building block for piano players, and you’ll find it used in just about every style of music.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding and playing the Am7 chord on piano, including different voicings and how to use it in your own music.
Understanding the Am7 Chord Structure
The Am7 chord gives a song a jazzy, melancholy flavor. It’s built from four notes: A, C, E, and G. Together, these notes create a minor seventh sound.
The chord’s interval structure is root (A), minor third (C), perfect fifth (E), and minor seventh (G). If you learn and understand intervals, you’ll have a much easier time constructing chords.
The Am7 chord can be written in a few different ways, so don’t be surprised if you see it referred to as A-7, Amin7, or Aminor7.
Playing the Am7 Chord: Fingerings and Voicings
Let’s talk about how to play the Am7 chord on the piano. A common fingering for your right hand is to put your thumb (1) on A, your index finger (2) on C, your middle finger (3) on E, and your pinky (5) on G.
For the left hand, you can experiment with different bass notes to get different sounds. Try playing A, C, E, or G in the bass.
Whatever you do, make sure your hands are relaxed and comfortable. You want to avoid tension so you can play smoothly and for a longer time.
Am7 chord inversions
Like all chords, the Am7 chord can be played in different inversions. Inversions are just different ways to arrange the notes of the chord. Playing inversions will give your playing a smoother, more professional sound.
First inversion (Am7/C)
In the first inversion, the C is the lowest note. You’ll play C – E – G – A.
To play this on the piano, place your left thumb on C, your index finger on E, your ring finger on G, and your pinky on A.
Second inversion (Am7/E)
The second inversion has E as the lowest note, so you’ll play E – G – A – C.
On the piano, you can reach this by placing your left thumb on E, your index finger on G, your ring finger on A, and your pinky on C.
Third inversion (Am7/G)
In the third inversion, G is the lowest note, so you’ll play G – A – C – E.
On the piano, place your left thumb on G, your index finger on A, your ring finger on C, and your pinky on E.
The more you practice these inversions, the easier it will be to move between them and add texture and polish to your playing.
Am7 in Chord Progressions
The Am7 chord fits neatly into progressions in C major and A minor. If you’re jamming in C major, try this: C – G – Am7 – F. In A minor, Am7 can act as the tonic: Am7 – Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7. Scales that sound good over Am7 include A natural minor, A harmonic minor, and C major.
Conclusion
The Am7 is a gorgeous, versatile chord. If you’re a beginner at piano or guitar, it’s a great chord to learn early on.
Once you’re comfortable playing the Am7, try experimenting with inversions, voicings, and progressions. You can find endless ways to use it in your music.