A minor chord on ukulele (Am)

Am is A, C and E. The easiest shape is 2-0-0-0. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

2-0-0-0 · open · easy

Notes: A · C · E
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5
First shape: 2-0-0-0

How to play Am on ukulele

Shape 1, 2-0-0-0, reading from the G string on the left:

Put your index finger on the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A.
The open C, E and A strings add C, E and A; don't touch them.

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.
On ukulele you strum all four strings. The top G string is tuned higher than the C, which is why ukulele chords sound bright and close.

Other ways to play Am

9-9-8-7: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

Playing Am with a capo

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 5th fret and play the open Em shape (0-4-3-2) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open Dm shape (2-2-1-0). The chord sounds as Am because the capo raises every string by 5 half steps.

Am chord changes

These are the changes you'll meet most often with Am, using the first shape of each chord.

D (V in G major): Am (2-0-0-0) to D (2-2-2-0): your index finger stays put, the middle finger comes down on the C string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the E string, 2nd fret. The two chords share A, which is why the change sounds smooth. D on ukulele
C (IV in G major): Am (2-0-0-0) to C (0-0-0-3): move the index finger to the A string, 3rd fret. C and E carry over from one chord to the other. C on ukulele
G (I in G major): Am (2-0-0-0) to G (0-2-3-2): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the middle finger comes down on the A string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the E string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. G on ukulele

Am has the gentle, slightly melancholy sound of a minor chord. All 3 notes of Am fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Getting Am under your fingers

Before strumming, play 2-0-0-0 note by note: A then C then E then A. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Next, alternate 2-0-0-0 and 9-9-8-7, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Where Am shows up

In A minor, i–VI–III–VII on ukulele is Am (2-0-0-0), F (2-0-1-0), C (0-0-0-3) and G (0-2-3-2). About the minor anthem.

In A minor, i–iv–V on ukulele is Am (2-0-0-0), Dm (2-2-1-0) and E (1-4-0-2). About the minor cadence.

In A minor, i–VII–VI–V on ukulele is Am (2-0-0-0), G (0-2-3-2), F (2-0-1-0) and E (1-4-0-2). About the Andalusian cadence.

Am on guitar and piano

Am on guitar and piano uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on ukulele

Other minor chords

Am on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Am on ukulele?

A, C and E. In the 2-0-0-0 shape the strings play A (G string), C (C string, open), E (E string, open) and A (A string, open), so A is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Am on ukulele?

2-0-0-0, the first shape on this page. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is Am a barre chord on ukulele?

Not in its common form: 2-0-0-0 needs no barre.

Which string does Am start on?

In the 2-0-0-0 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A, the root.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes A, C and E and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.