![]() The A minor chord isn’t all doom and gloom, however. Guitarists can hear it in “9 Crimes” by Damien Rice, Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love,” and “Ho Hey” by the Lumineers. ![]() The A minor chord’s legacy as a staple of emotionally turbulent folk tunes is alive and well today. Fast-forward to the 1990s and Lilith Fair singer-songwriter Jewel weaves the A minor chord into two of her biggest hits, “ Who Will Save Your Soul” and “ You Were Meant For Me.” The Am chord also appears in "California Dreamin'" from ‘60s folk quartet the Mamas and the Papas. lang to Rufus Wainwright, the song lyrics actually point out the placement of the A “minor fall” and the (F chord’s) “major lift.” Its deep, velvety sound could be heard in the equally deep and velvety-voiced Leonard Cohen’s iconic ballad, “ Hallelujah.” Covered by everyone from Jeff Buckley to k.d. The A minor chord is a mainstay in classic and modern folk songs steeped in wistful yearning. You can also hear the A minor chord create an unsettling feel in “ Where Is My Mind” by the Pixies, which was featured in the final scene of the movie Fight Club. Take note of the psychedelic feel of the Clapton-powered Cream classic, “ White Room.” Or the power ballad majesty of “ Love Song” by Tesla. The Am chord also lends itself to creating a mood for songs. More recent rock hits like Paramore’s “ Ain’t It Fun” and “ The Pretender” by Foo Fighters keep that sentiment alive and well with their use of A minor. and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “ Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” showcase the sonic power of the A minor chord to set the tone (pun intended) for songs with heavier lyrical content. Pensive classic rock songs like “ One” by U2, “ Losing My Religion” by R.E.M. However, the Am chord also appears in some up-tempo songs, serving as an edgy contrast to major chords. It’s no surprise the chord finds its way into songs with an introspective edge. When played by itself, the A minor chord has a downbeat tone. When playing the Am chord, you’ll be striking every string except for your low E, whether you’re playing an upward or downward strumming pattern.īe the first to know about new products, featured content, exclusive offers and giveaways. Rather, this chord sounds the following notes when played together: ![]() There are no flats or sharps in an A minor chord. Strum 5 strings down from the A string and let the chord ring out. Ring finger: 2nd fret of the G (3rd) string Middle finger: 2nd fret of the D (4th) string Index finger: 1st fret of the B (2nd) string Finally, stretch your third (ring) finger over to the D string on the second fret. From there, place your second (middle) finger on the second fret of your G string. To play the chord, begin by placing your first (index) finger on the first fret of your B string. With some practice, you’ll be able to easily “stick the landing” and master the finger positioning required to play the A minor chord. However, when you look at the sheer volume of songs that use the Am chord, it’s a challenge worth accepting. The A minor chord can be a challenge for beginner guitarists who haven’t built up their finger dexterity to make a swift transition to land their fingers on the correct strings and frets. Let’s dive in and learn how to play it! Playing the A Minor Chord The Am chord can be found in songs across a variety of genres, including rock, folk and country. And, like most minor chords, its tone evokes a somber or sad emotional feel. ![]() When played in standard E tuning, the Am chord has a rich, heavy sound. Sometimes pushing too hard or pulling on the string can cause tuning problems so lighten up and don’t bend the strings if this is the case.īefore moving to the next chord make sure that the E-Minor guitar chord is clean.The Am (A minor) chord is one of the most widely-used chords that can be heard in a variety of popular songs. Listen for blocked notes by playing each string individually with the pick. Your thumb should be positioned somewhere behind the second fingertip and remember to keep the wrist straight.With the pick strum downward on the assigned strings. Two things will cause you not to get sound: Avoid blocking another string by keeping the fingers perpendicular to the strings. Apply just enough pressure to cause the string to touch the fret. It’s a good idea to keep your fingernails clipped. Proper guitar fretting includes making sure you curve your fingers and play using the fingertips. “ O” (open position) means play the string without pushing a note. “ X” (closed) means do not play the string. The numbers represent left hand finger positions. The vertical lines represent strings and the horizontal lines represent frets. The guitar chord diagrams down below are both popular for teaching chords on the guitar. Using scale technique, you should be able to learn and play some basic guitar chords such as the E-Minor and A-Minor. ![]()
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