Chord progression · A minor

The minor cadence (i–iv–V–i) in A minor

The minor-key version of I–IV–V. The V chord is major (borrowed from the harmonic minor scale), which gives a strong pull back home.

Chords in A minor
Am→Dm→E→Am
Numerals
iivVi

Play along

4 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose

1Ami
2Dmiv
3EV
4Ami

Strum pattern: ↓   ↓↑  ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →

The chords

i Am
×A2E3A1CE
1ACEA
ACEA C E
iv Dm
××D2A3D1F
2A3D1FA
AC4DFDm/A
V E
E2B3E1G♯BE
1G♯4EE2B
BC4EG♯E/G♯

Piano voicings use inversions so each chord is as close as possible to the one before — your hand barely moves. Switch to “Root position” to compare.