The notes of A minor
A minor has three notes, A, C and E: C is a minor 3rd above A and E is a perfect 5th above A. That gives the formula 1 ♭3 5, a root, a minor third (3 half steps) and a perfect fifth (7 half steps).
How it sounds and where it’s used
A minor chord sounds darker, softer or sadder than a major one, though only one note differs: the third is a half step lower. Minor chords are home in minor keys, and in major keys they bring colour as ii, iii and vi. You’ll meet A minor most as i in A minor, iv in E minor and v in D minor.
- Raise the middle note a half step, C to C♯, and it becomes A major.
- Its relative major is C major, which shares two of its notes (C and E).
- As ii in G major it often comes before V and I (a ii–V–I); add G on top for A minor 7.
Fingering
The thumb and little finger take the outer notes. Where two notes are a fourth apart rather than a third, the finger in between is skipped, which is why the inversions change the middle finger. Every thumb note here is a white key, so the hand can stay near the front edge of the keys.
| Position | Notes | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | A C E | 1-3-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 1st inversion | C E A | 1-2-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 2nd inversion | E A C | 1-3-5 | 5-2-1 |
Fingers count from the thumb (1) to the little finger (5). Shown low to high, so the left hand starts with 5.
Inversions
The same three notes can be stacked with any of them lowest. 1st inversion puts the third at the bottom: C, E and A, written Am/C. 2nd inversion puts the fifth at the bottom: E, A and C, written Am/E. Whatever is on top, the chord is still A minor: the lowest note only changes its colour. Pianists choose the position that is nearest to the chord before, so the hand moves by a step instead of jumping.
Keys with A minor
A minor is i, the home chord, of the key of A minor. These are all the keys it belongs to:
Finding it fast
Count half steps from A, black keys included: C 3 half steps above A and E 4 half steps above C. In root position its keys are all white. D minor and E minor have the same shape on the keys, so learn them together.
To read it on the page as quickly, practise the shapes with the chord reading quiz, and see how the notes are counted in intervals.