The A Minor chord is a three-note chord made up of A, C, and E. It is built from a root, minor third, and perfect fifth.
Construction
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| A | Root | 1 |
| C | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| E | Perfect 5th | 5 |
How to Play the A Minor
Right Hand (RH)
Place your right hand over the keys with the thumb on the root. Use the fingering: 1 – 3 – 5
Left Hand (LH)
For the left hand, start with your pinky on the root. Use the fingering: 5 – 3 – 1
A Minor Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | A – C – E |
| 1st Inversion | C – E – A |
| 2nd Inversion | E – A – C |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the A Minor is the tonic (i) chord of A Minor, which shares the signature of its relative major, C Major — no sharps or flats.
Chords in the Key of A Minor
These are the triads built on each degree of the A minor scale:
How A Minor functions in a key
The same chord takes on a different harmonic role depending on the key it appears in. Here is where A Minor sits diatonically across the common keys:
- In C major, A Minor is the vi chord — the tonic.
- In A minor, A Minor is the i chord — the tonic.
- In G major, A Minor is the ii chord — a predominant.
- In E minor, A Minor is the iv chord — a predominant.
- In F major, A Minor is the iii chord — a mediant / color chord.
- In D minor, A Minor is the v chord.
Common A Minor Progressions
Pick a progression and press play. Change the key to hear it anywhere — every chord is built from the same theory as the chord pages, so the notes always agree.
The epic minor loop — cinematic and driving, heard across pop, rock and film scores.