A Minor Piano Chord (Am)

Start with C4, middle C. A3 is two white-key steps to its left: move past B3 to A3. E4 is two white-key steps to the right of C4: move past D4 to E4.

The marked keys show pitches, not a hand shape or a required fingering.

1. Locate A3, C4, and E4 using the labels.
2. Play them separately to check their order, then sound the three notes together.
3. If you use another octave, move all three notes by the same number of octaves to keep this root-position shape.

An inversion changes which chord tone is lowest. First inversion puts C in the bass; second inversion puts E in the bass. The letters after the slash in Am/C and Am/E identify that bass note.

These examples use close position without doubled notes. Other spacings are possible; the lowest note determines the inversion.

From A to C is a minor third: three semitone steps. From C to E is a major third: four semitone steps. Together, the outer notes A and E form a perfect fifth.

Compare A minor, A–C–E, with A major, A–C♯–E. Only the third changes. A minor uses C natural; A major uses C-sharp. The interval pattern identifies the chord as minor, without needing a mood label.

Use this as a note-finding check. Work with one position at a time before moving to the next.

1. Play A3–C4–E4 and say “A in the bass.”
2. Choose first inversion and play C4–E4–A4. Say “C in the bass.”
3. Choose second inversion and play E4–A4–C5. Say “E in the bass.”
4. Without looking at the chord symbol, name the lowest note and identify the position. Check against the table.

Download the one-page reference to compare all three positions. It includes the exact pitches and keyboard diagrams shown here, with no finger numbers.

Use Print this position if you only need the current selection.