Playing An A Minor Chord on the Ukulele

By Al Wood

In the series so far, we've looked at three chords: C, F and G. All these chords are major chords. You can spice up your playing considerably by adding into that minor chords.

To that end, we'll be using this article to learn our first minor chord to add to the major chords we've looked at already.

Explaining Minor Chords

You'll be familiar with minor chords as being the 'sad' sounding chords in songs. This contrasts strongly with the major chords we have looked at with their 'happy' sound.

To change a chord from being major to being minor takes just one note: the third.

In a major chord, one of the notes that makes up the chord is the note four frets higher than the root note. For example, in a C chord the third note is an E and the C chord contains an E.

The only difference with a minor chord is that the third note is only three frets over the root (that is one fret lower than in the major chord). So if the root is A, the minor third will be three frets higher: C.

How to Play A Minor

The big advantage of the A minor chords is that it only takes one finger to play it.

To play A minor fret the G string at fret 2 with your middle fingers. And let all the other strings ring open.

When you first play the A minor chord you might find that the underside of your middle finger is catching on the C string and stopping it sounding. Be really careful this doesn't happen as it is the C note that gives the chord its minor sound.

When chords are written up, they are often shortened. So you'll usually see Am used as a shortened form of A minor.

This A minor chord fits excellently with the major chords we have looked at so far. So if you're looking to write a song, all these chords will go together well. - 20768

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