The Open Am7 Chord for Guitar

The Formula of the Chord

The Am7 (A minor 7) chord is a versatile and frequently used chord in various styles of music. It adds a rich, mellow tone compared to the standard A minor chord. The formula for a minor 7 chord consists of four intervals: the root (R), the minor third (b3), the perfect fifth (5), and the minor seventh (b7). For the A minor 7 chord, the specific notes involved are:

• Root (R): A
• Minor Third (b3): C
• Perfect Fifth (5): E
• Minor Seventh (b7): G

In the open Am7 chord that uses two fingers, the voicing we play includes these notes distributed across the strings as follows:

• 5th string (A): Open A (R)
• 4th string (D): E (5)
• 3rd string (G): Open G (b7)
• 2nd string (B): C (b3)
• 1st string (E): Open E (5)

How to Play the Chord

To play the open Am7 chord using two fingers, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Index Finger: Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string (B string). This will produce the note C (b3).
2. Middle Finger: Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string (D string). This will produce the note E (5).

Ensure your fingers are pressing down firmly just behind the frets to get a clear sound. The remaining strings (5th, 3rd, and 1st) should be played open:

• 5th string (A): Open, producing the note A (R)
• 3rd string (G): Open, producing the note G (b7)
• 1st string (E): Open, producing the note E (5)

Strum from the 5th string down to the 1st string to play the Am7 chord. Avoid playing the 6th string (E string) as it is not part of this chord voicing.

Chord Visualisation

Below is the tablature to help you visualise the Am7 chord:

Tablature:

e|---0---| (Open String)
B|---1---| (Index Finger)
G|---0---| (Open String)
D|---2---| (Middle Finger)
A|---0---| (Open String)
E|---x---| (Do not play)