A Minor 7th
Hear the A Minor 7th chord played for you.
Am7
A – C – E – G
Formula:R-m3-P5-m7
Intervals:P1-m3-P5-m7
Scale Degrees:1-b3-5-b7
Introduction
The A Minor 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of A, C, E, and G. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh.
The A Minor 7th piano chord (Am7) consists of the notes A, C, E, G. It is a minor triad with an added minor 7th, giving it a smooth, dark, soulful sound common in jazz and R&B. Formula: R-m3-P5-m7 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-5-b7.
Notes
A Minor 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | A – C – E – G |
| 1st Inversion | C – E – G – A |
| 2nd Inversion | E – G – A – C |
| 3rd Inversion | A – C – E – G |
Key Signature
The key of A Minor 7th has no sharps or flats. Every note is natural, which makes it the easiest key signature to read on the staff.
Chords in the Key of A Minor
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the A minor scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
i — A Minor (minor)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-P5-m7
Intervals: P1-m3-P5-m7
The A Minor 7th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-m3-P5-m7 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-m3-P5-m7 show the distance between each note in the chord.
A Minor 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the A Minor 7th chord?
The A Minor 7th chord (Am7) contains four notes: A (root), C (minor third), E (perfect fifth), and G (minor seventh). All white keys — making Am7 one of the easiest and most common minor 7th chords on piano.
How does A Minor 7th differ from A Dominant 7th?
Both have A as root and G as seventh. The difference is the third: Am7 has C (minor third) while A7 has C# (major third). Am7 sounds smooth and melancholy; A7 sounds bright and drives toward D Major.
How is A Minor 7th used in music?
Am7 is the vi chord in C Major and the ii chord in G Major (Am7–D7–Gmaj7). It is one of the most frequently played chords in all of popular music. Am7 appears in pop, rock, jazz, folk, bossa nova, and R&B constantly.
What genres commonly use Minor 7th chords?
Minor 7th chords are essential in jazz, R&B, neo-soul, soul, funk, lo-fi hip-hop, and bossa nova. Am7 specifically crosses into nearly every genre because A minor and C Major are among the most common keys.
What songs use Minor 7th chords?
Am7 is ubiquitous in popular music. Autumn Leaves features Am7 prominently. Norah Jones, John Mayer, and Alicia Keys all use Am7 frequently. It may be the single most played minor 7th chord in recorded music.
What is the ii–V–I progression?
The ii–V–I is the most important jazz progression: Am7 (ii) → D7 (V) → Gmaj7 (I) in G Major. Am7 also starts the vi–ii–V–I turnaround in C Major: Am7–Dm7–G7–Cmaj7.
Practice Tips
- Am7 is all white keys (A–C–E–G) — the perfect chord to learn the minor 7th sound. Play it and memorize the feeling.
- Compare Am7 with A7 — one semitone (C vs C#) separates melancholy from bluesy brightness. Train your ear on this critical difference.
- Practice Am7 as the ii chord in G: Am7 → D7 → Gmaj7. This is one of the most common ii–V–Is in jazz and pop.
- Try the classic turnaround: Am7 → Dm7 → G7 → Cmaj7. This four-chord progression appears in hundreds of jazz standards.
- Am7 is a lo-fi hip-hop favourite — loop Am7 with a relaxed rhythm for an instantly chill atmosphere.
- Rootless voicing: C–E–G without the A root — this is a C Major triad, the simplest possible jazz voicing for Am7.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.