Learn › A Minor Chord on Piano, Left Hand (Am)
New Released in April 2026
A Minor Chord on Piano, Left Hand (Am)
The Am chord on piano with the left hand: A, C and E, fingers 5 3 1 from the bottom up, just below middle C. This page shows where the hand sits, which patterns to play, and how to change chords without jumping.
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Five left-hand patterns on Am
Each pattern uses only notes of Am, so none of them can sound wrong.
| Pattern | Notes | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Block chord | A+C+E | learning a new song, hymns |
| Root and fifth | A+E | rock and pop, a full bass with two fingers |
| Broken chord (low, high, middle, high) | A E C E | soft verses, piano solos |
| Arpeggio up and down | A C E C | waltzes and slow ballads |
| Octave bass | A+A | a heavy bass under a loud melody |
Left-hand Am: shapes and fingers
Pick the position by what comes next: the one that shares the most keys with the next chord is the right one. All 3 notes are white keys, so the hand lies flat.
| Position | Notes, bottom up | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | A C E | 5 3 1 |
| 1st inversion | C E A | 5 3 1 |
| 2nd inversion | E A C | 5 2 1 |
Both hands on Am
Put A C E in the right hand, an octave higher, and you hear the full Am with a clear bass.
Try the right hand in another position of Am while the left holds root position.
A progression for the left hand: Am → Dm → E → Am
Do not play every chord in root position: the hand would jump. These positions move one or two keys at a time.
| Chord | Left hand plays | Keys that stay |
|---|---|---|
| Am | A C E (Root position) | starting chord |
| Dm | A D F (2nd inversion) | A |
| E | G# B E (1st inversion) | new position |
| Am | A C E (Root position) | E |
Practise left-hand Am
- Find A below middle C with finger 5 and drop the hand on A, C and E.
- Play the first three patterns of the table, four bars each: block chord; root and fifth; broken chord.
- Play Am → Dm → E → Am slowly until the change happens without looking down.
- Then keep the left hand steady while the right hand plays any chord note: that is the goal.
Come back tomorrow and start from the pattern you found hardest today.
Test your left hand in a game
ChordRunner shows a chord symbol and checks the notes you play, in any octave and any position, so a left-hand Am counts. Plug in a MIDI keyboard or use the microphone with an acoustic piano.
Play the demoCommon questions
What fingers do I use for Am in the left hand?
Root position 5 3 1, from the bottom note up. 1st inversion 5 3 1, 2nd inversion 5 2 1.
Which Am position is best for the left hand?
The one closest to the next chord. In Am → Dm → E → Am the hand plays Am = A C E; Dm = A D F; E = G# B E; Am = A C E.
Why are left-hand fingers different from the right hand for Am?
Because the hand is mirrored: the little finger (5) sits on the bottom note A and the thumb on top. The right hand would play the same notes with 1 3 5.
Does a game count Am if I play it low with the left hand?
In ChordRunner, yes: the game listens for the notes A, C and E, not for a hand or an octave. Use a USB MIDI keyboard, or the microphone with a real piano.
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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