Guitar/Chord changes C-Am

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= Relative minor Am = The change between C major and A minor (Am for short) is even easier than the change between G and Em.

Only one finger is moved between C major and Am.

This makes it very easy to remember that Am is the relative minor to C.

The 2-5-1 chord progression
In the key of G major, the chord C major is the subdominant. Am is the relative minor of C major, so Am is the relative subdominant.

The relative subdominant can be used very well as an announcer ("herald") of the exciting dominant.

Suppose a song contains the chord sequence D(7) G (dominant - tonic). In such a case, the relative subdominant Am very often announces the dominant D(7). You can gain momentum with the Am to D(7) in order to then end up at G again. So Am D(7) G.

If you count through the G major scale 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8(=1) G A H C D E F# G then you will see that G is on the first degree, A (and Am) on the second degree and D on the fifth degree. The chord progression Am D(7) G is therefore a II-V-I chord progression (2-5-1 in Roman numerals). This chord progression occurs very frequently. It is also particularly popular as a final turn at the end of a verse, a chorus or at the end of a song, or as a transition from the end of a verse with Am D to the beginning of the next verse again with the tonic G. A chord progression, which leads back to the tonic, is a "turnaround". It's worth paying attention to this. It is always easier to memorize a whole standard chord progression than three seemingly independent chords. After a while, you will see and hear this II-V-I connection on your own.

Examples of a II-V-I chord progression

 * Killedpoor LauraFoster. - You know you're bound todie. (Tom Dooley)
 * And Inever willplay THE WILDROVER nomore
 * saying SOMETHINGSTUPID like Ilove you
 * and Imean it from thebottom of myheart (I just call to say I love you)
 * DON'TWORRY,BEHAPPY

In the last lessons you learned the chord progression G-Em-C-D. You also learned here that C major can sometimes be replaced by Am. And you learned that Am can herald the dominant D. So just try replacing the chord progression G-Em-C-D with the chord progression G-Em-Am-D. You'll find that in most cases it works without any problems, so it will be a matter of taste later on whether you use one or the other variant.

Em - Am
Even if the chord change Em Am doesn't cause any significant problems, you can practice it several times in isolation if necessary:
 * 1) Lift all fingers
 * 2) Both fingers goes simultaneously down one fret
 * 3) Index finger in the correct position (same like in C major)
 * 4) Lift all fingers
 * 5) Index and middle fingers goes simultaneously up one fret.