Am7 scale

In this lesson we will learn the different positions of the Am7 chord and scale.

Recall that chords are built up in thirds. What I have done was take a blank illustration of the fretboard and placed all the notes of the Am7 chord on it. Look at the illustration below.

The image above shows the notes of the Am7 chord. The notes that make up the Am7 chord are A C E and G. This would be the same fingering pattern at the 17th fret since all patterns repeat after 12 frets. Compare this illustration to the one above and come up with other ways to play the notes of this scale.

By doing this you can see right away where each note of this chord and scale are located. You will also figure out different ways to play the Am7 chord. The illustration below shows two different ways to play the Am7 chord. Compare the lower illustration to the image above. 

The easiest way to figure out each scale and chord is to lay out each note of the key you are working with. Since we are working with the key of Am, we will use those notes. The notes that make up the key of Am are: A B C D E F G and G. 

Recall that the sixth note of the major key will be the relative minor key. Look at the table and notice the key of C major, notice the 6th note of that key. This would be the Am chord and the A minor scale. Now we take each note of that key and write them out. A B C D E F and G. If we wanted to figure out the key of C major we would look up that key on the table. The notes would be: C D E F G A B C.

Since the key of C major and Am have the same notes, we begin with the A note for the key of Am and   the C note for the key of C major.

Okay, now back to the key of Am. A B C D E F G A. To figure out the notes of the Am chord we would take the 1st 3rd and 5th notes: A C and E. If we wanted to figure out the Am7 chord we would continue in thirds and add one more note. A C E and G. 1st 3rd 5th and 7th notes out of the Am scale.

So the Am chord would be the 1st 3rd and 5th and the Am7 chord would be the A C E and G notes.

Minor chords are built using the 1 b3 and 5th notes. But since this is the Am scale the 3rd note has already been flattened.

Let's look at the key of A major. The notes would be A B C# D E F# G# and A. To construct the Am chord from the A major chord would would have to flatten that C#. The A chord is A C# and E.

Okay back to the key of Am and the notes of the Am 7 chord.

We can use this illustration to build arpeggios and different ways to play the Am 7 scale. It would be a good idea to record the Am 7 chord on tape and then play the notes of this scale over it. Notice that this scale doesn't have the D note. If it did, then it would be exactly like the Am pentatonic scale. 

The illustration below shows the notes of the F maj7 chord. The notes of this chord would be the F A C and E notes. The notes of the Am scale are A B C D E F G and A. To figure out the notes of the F major 7 chord we would start with the F note and take every other note. Or we write out the notes of the Am scale, but start with the F note this time. F G A B C D E F and G. Count out the 1 3 5 and 7 notes now. You will notice that the notes are F A C and E. These are the 4 notes that make up the Fmaj7 chord.

As the Am7 progression is playing use these notes above to play over the F major chord part. And use the notes of the Am 7 chord to play over the Am7 part. Or you can just use all the notes of the Am scale to play over the progression. The key of C major has the same notes as the key of A minor as illustrated below. The Am scale can be also considered the Dorian mode in the key of G major. The Dorian mode in the key of G major is a minor mode and is played from A to A in the key of G. 

So take any major key out of the table and the 6th note of that major key will be the Aeolian mode. For example in the table you will find the key of G major. Em would be the Aeolian mode and the natural minor in the key of G major.

So you can use the blank illustration to figure out any scale you would like to play. Figure out the rest of the chords in the Am scale. The notes and chords of the Am scale are: Am, Bdim, C, Dm, Em, F, G and B diminished. (Am 7 = A C E G) (Bm7b5 = B D F A) (C maj7 = C E G B) (Dm7 = D F A C) (Em7 = E G B D) (Fmaj7 = F A C E) (G7 = G B D F).

Good luck,