A minor · Ukulele
Am Chord on Ukulele
The Am chord (A minor) is built from the notes A, C and E. The ukulele fingering for it is shown below.
Chord diagrams
Fingering
- string 4 (G): fret 2 — middle finger
- string 3 (C): played open
- string 2 (E): played open
- string 1 (A): played open
Notes in this chord
- A
- C
- E
Degrees: 1 – ♭3 – 5
How to play
Am can be played with open strings on ukulele, which makes it an accessible shape for beginners. Strings marked ○ ring open, while strings marked ✕ are muted.
Theory behind the chord
Minor chords sound darker than major ones because the third is lowered by a semitone. They carry the melancholic colour in most songs and pair naturally with their relative major. On Am this structure sits on the root A, so the degrees 1 – ♭3 – 5 map onto A, C and E. Am is the vi chord in the key of C major, the ii chord in G major and the iii chord in F major. Its relative major is C. It is often heard in the Am – F – C – G progression.
Frequently asked questions
- Which notes are in the Am chord?
- Am contains the notes A, C and E. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – ♭3 – 5.
- How many ways can you play Am?
- Minory lists a single ukulele fingering for Am.
- Is the Am chord hard to play?
- Not really. The open position of Am uses open strings and needs no barre, which makes it approachable for beginners.
Practise Am on your phone
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