Learn › A Minor Chord Inversions (Am, Am/C, Am/E)
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A Minor Chord Inversions (Am, Am/C, Am/E)
To invert Am, move the bottom note up an octave: A C E becomes C E A (1st inversion, Am/C), then E A C (2nd inversion, Am/E). Below: each position on the keyboard, how to tell them apart, the fingering for each one and a progression that uses them.
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How to tell the Am inversions apart
Look for the fourth: it sits on top in the 1st inversion and at the bottom in the 2nd.
| Position | Bass | Name | Figured bass | Shape (bottom to top) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | A | Am | 5/3 | minor 3rd + major 3rd |
| 1st inversion | C | Am/C | 6 (6/3) | major 3rd + perfect 4th |
| 2nd inversion | E | Am/E | 6/4 | perfect 4th + minor 3rd |
Am inversions on the keyboard
Root position starts on A, the 1st inversion on C, the 2nd on E.
Root position: A C E
1st inversion: C E A
2nd inversion: E A C
- Root position: starts on A, a white key; all white keys
- 1st inversion: starts on C, a white key; all white keys
- 2nd inversion: starts on E, a white key; all white keys
Why Am inversions matter: Am → Dm/A → E/G# → Am
This is the reason pianists learn inversions: Am → Dm/A → E/G# → Am keeps the hand still while the chords change. The common note A stays under the same finger.
- From Am to Dm/A: A stays, C → D, E → F.
- From Dm/A to E/G#: A → G#, D → B, F → E.
- From E/G# to Am: G# → A, B → C, E stays.
Am inversions: which fingers
| Position | 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 |
Keep the thumb on the lowest note in the right hand and the little finger on the lowest note in the left.
Make the inversions automatic
ChordRunner accepts every voicing, so you can drill Am/C and Am/E at speed between other chords. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Play the demoThe Am chord · All piano chords · Chord inversions explained
Common questions
What is the first inversion of A minor?
The 1st inversion of Am is C E A, written Am/C: the third, C, is in the bass and A moves to the top. In figured bass it is a 6 chord.
What is the second inversion of A minor?
The 2nd inversion is E A C, written Am/E: the fifth, E, is in the bass. Figured bass calls it a 6/4 chord.
What fingering do I use for Am inversions?
Right hand: 1-3-5 for root position and 2nd inversion, 1-2-5 for the 1st inversion. Left hand: 5-3-1 for root position and 1st inversion, 5-2-1 for the 2nd inversion.
Why learn Am inversions?
They let you change chords without moving the hand. Am → Dm/A → E/G# → Am uses inversions so most notes stay where they are and the others move by a step.
Can I practise Am/C and Am/E with a MIDI keyboard?
Yes. ChordRunner detects a USB MIDI keyboard automatically and also listens through the microphone to an acoustic piano. Every inversion of Am is accepted, so you can drill them in any order.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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