Harmonic Circles
Harmonic Circle of A Minor (Am)
I – vi – ii – V7Harmonic progression with an interactive player and guitar diagrams.
Sequence and Tonal Functions of the Circle Am
To achieve smooth chord transitions, always identify anchor fingers (common notes held on the fretboard) and keep your wrist relaxed without sudden arm movements. Practice the loop at a slow tempo before speeding up.
How the chords connect in A minor
The progression
This circle goes through Am, F, Dm and E7, which in A minor are degrees i, VI, iv and V7.
The notes of each chord
In Am you hear A, C and E. F holds F, A and C. In Dm you hear D, F and A. E7 holds E, G#, B and D.
From one chord to the next
From Am to F, A and C stay, and two hand positions stay put. F and Dm keep F and A in common. Also, two hand positions stay put. From Dm to E7, D stays, but no fretted position repeats.
Back to the start
Going back from E7 to Am, G# rises a semitone to A and D falls a whole tone to C. The two chords share E.
The hand
Am rings with two strings open and three fretted positions, leaving string 6 unplayed. F needs a barre at fret 1. Dm rings with string 4 open and three fretted positions, leaving strings 6 and 5 unplayed. E7 presses two positions and leaves four strings open. The highest fret in the circle is fret 3, in F. F uses a barre.
Am harmonic circle diagram
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Key map: Am
- Key signature
- no sharps or flats
- Scale notes
- A – B – C – D – E – F – G
The 7 chords of the key
In minor, V is major thanks to the leading tone (raised 7th degree).
- Relative key
- C
- How to play it with a capo
- open shapes, no capoEm shapes + capo on fret 5Dm shapes + capo on fret 7
Download the printable A4 sheet (this circle and 3 more)The Am circle for guitar
The thumb plays the 5th string for Am, the 6th string for F and E7, and the 4th string for Dm.
Show tab and notation
Show the piano version (grand staff)
The Am circle on the staff
The left hand plays A, F, D, and E in the bass.
Loading score…
Show the notes as text, beat by beat
Bar 1 · Am
| Count | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand (RH) | E4C4A3 | E4C4A3 | ||
| Left hand (LH) | A2 | E3 |
Bar 2 · F
| Count | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand (RH) | C5A4F4 | C5A4F4 | ||
| Left hand (LH) | F2 | C3 |
Bar 3 · Dm
| Count | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand (RH) | A4F4D4 | A4F4D4 | ||
| Left hand (LH) | D3 | A3 |
Bar 4 · E7
| Count | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand (RH) | D5B4G#4E4 | D5B4G#4E4 | ||
| Left hand (LH) | E3 | B3 |
Famous Songs Using the Circle (Am)
Well-known songs that use this progression
"The House of the Rising Sun"
Am - C - D - F - Am - E7Arpeggio in 6/8 that moves through the minor degrees and culminates in the dominant E7.
"Losing My Religion"
Am - Em - F - Dm - GAeolian structure in A minor with twelve-string guitars and mandolin.
"Historia de un Amor"
Am - Dm - E7 - AmCanonical Latin bolero structured on the minor cadential cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Circle (Am)
Concrete, direct answers on fingering, strumming, and music theory
Which chords make up the Am harmonic circle and what order are they played in?
The Am harmonic circle consists of four chords following the i - VI - iv - V7 formula: Am - F - Dm - E7. In guitar practice, it is played in 4/4 time, typically giving one measure (4 beats) to each chord before transitioning to the next in a seamless loop.
What famous songs use the Am harmonic circle?
The Am harmonic circle is used in worldwide hit songs such as "The House of the Rising Sun" (The Animals), "Losing My Religion" (R.E.M.). In these works, the Am - F - Dm - E7 cycle creates a continuous loop of home, movement, tension, and resolution.
What is the harmonic function of each chord in the Am circle?
In the Am circle, the first chord (Am) provides the home tonic (Degree I/i); the second (F) introduces relative contrast; the third (Dm) prepares motion; and the fourth (E7) creates dominant seventh tension (V7) resolving smoothly back to the tonic.
What is the best strumming pattern to practice the Am harmonic circle?
To build muscle memory and steady rhythm on the Am circle, practice with a Pop Ballad or Acoustic Strumming pattern at 75 to 85 BPM. Emphasize the root bass note on beat 1 followed by relaxed down and up strums on beats 2, 3, and 4.
Want to know how each chord feels?
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