First inversion
Am/C
C – E – A
THE PIANO CHORD LIBRARY
A minor chord on piano
Play Am with A, C, E. Learn the shape, hear the difference, and connect it to your next chord.
ROOT POSITION
Am A – C – E
Tap a play button to hear the piano.
01 / BUILD THE CHORD
Notes in A minor
A minor is a three-note chord, or triad: A – C – E. Its formula is 1–♭3–5, measured against the major scale starting on A.
- Find A. Find a group of three black keys. A is the white key between the second and third black keys.
- Add C, the minor third. Count 3 semitones up from A. Each adjacent key, black or white, is one semitone.
- Add E, the perfect fifth. It sits seven semitones above the root. Press all three notes together.
All three notes are on white keys. Keep your hand relaxed and let the fingers curve naturally over the keys.
02 / CHANGE THE BASS NOTE
A minor inversions
An inversion rearranges the same three notes. Move the lowest note up an octave to go from root position to first inversion, then do that again for second inversion. The chord stays Am.
| Position | Notes | Bass note | Chord symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | A – C – E | A | Am |
| First inversion | C – E – A | C | Am/C |
| Second inversion | E – A – C | E | Am/E |
Second inversion
Am/E
E – A – C
A slash names the bass note: Am/C means “A minor with C at the bottom.” Use inversions to reduce the distance your hand travels between chords.
03 / GET COMFORTABLE
Suggested A minor fingerings
Finger numbers are 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little finger. Read the suggestions below from the lowest note to the highest note. These are starting points for a relaxed three-note shape; adjust for your hand and the chords before and after it.
| Position | Notes | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | A – C – E | 1–3–5 | 5–3–1 |
| First inversion | C – E – A | 1–2–5 | 5–3–1 |
| Second inversion | E – A – C | 1–3–5 | 5–2–1 |
Start with one hand. Place the fingers silently, play the notes together, then release. Repeat the shape before moving to an inversion. Try to press all three keys at the same time without raising the shoulders or locking the wrist.
Chord degrees describe harmony; finger numbers describe your hand. A degree of 3 or ♭3 does not tell you which finger to use. See a published example of these common triad fingering patterns.
04 / PUT IT IN MOTION
Practice Am in a progression
Try Am – F – C – G. In A minor, these chords form i–VI–III–VII. Play each for four steady counts, then return to the beginning.
- First pass: use root-position chords with your right hand. Count “1, 2, 3, 4” evenly for each chord.
- Second pass: add only the root of each chord in your left hand, one octave lower.
- Third pass: choose an inversion of the next chord that keeps shared notes close. Listen for a smoother connection as you return to Am.
Start at a pace where every note lands together. The buttons let you hear each chord separately; set your own steady pulse when you play.