The A minor chord is one of the first chords every guitarist should learn to play since it often appears in popular music. This minor chord produces a sound that is commonly described as “sad,” but it can be mixed with other chords to give it another interpretation. Most commonly used in metal, blues, and rock, the A minor chord has a fair amount of fame in modern music.
Some chords that go fairly well with the A minor chord are E major, F major, and D minor, among others! If you would like to compose some songs using this sad-sounding chord, then you could try using those, but before that, let’s check the easiest ways in which you could play the A minor chord.
Standard A Minor Chord Shape
Unlike many other chords, the standard version of this chord is fairly easy to learn. All you have to do is to be aware of not playing the 6th string. The fingers you will have to use for this chord are your first, second and third. Follow this image to play the standard version of A minor:
Easier Version A Minor Chord Shape
This simplified version of A minor is played with only two fingers, but you’d have to avoid playing the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings, leaving alone the first three strings. Follow this image to learn how to play this chord:
A Minor Triad Chord Shapes
A minor can be played in many different ways. There are many ways in which you can play A minor along the fretboard. By using the different inversions that this chord has to offer, you can discover many interesting sounds that you can add to your repertoire of chords. Here are all A minor triads:
A Minor Barre Chord Shapes
If you’re up to the challenge, here are some variations of the A minor in the shape of barre chords. As we know, barre chords can be a little challenging. Therefore, we’d suggest practicing them as much as possible until your finger gets used to them.
Remember that the barre is played with the side of your finger. This ability is acquired by practice, and what’s a better practice than repeating these two A minor barre chord shapes? Follow the next images to learn how to play these two mysteriously sounding chords:
Alternative A Minor Chord Shapes
If you’d like to explore other ways in which you can play A minor chords, here are two alternatives that are a bit challenging. We’d suggest learning the previous versions of this chord before trying this one. If you feel ready, here are two alternatives to the standard A minor chord:
