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Permalink Reply by Ben on November 30, 2010 at 11:28am

I could have sworn we went over this tuning before. Here's one option: Hold down all the strings at the 7th Fret with your index finger. Then, using another finger (probably pinky), hold down the top 2 strings (D and F#) at the 10th fret.

And oh yeah...coming from a music teacher...make your life easier and LEARN THE THEORY. If you get freaked out by the word "theory," think of it as LEARN THE HOW-TO. Learning how music works will make your music much, much better. Buy Keni Lee's lessons if nothing else. They're a bargain!

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on November 30, 2010 at 11:55am

an Am chord is made from the notes A,C and E
You can fret the two D strings at the second fret with your pointer and middle finger, then fret the D and F# strings at the 3rd fret with your ring and pinky fingers..

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Permalink Reply by BenBob on November 30, 2010 at 12:53pm

Try this:
http://www.studybass.com/tools/chord-scale-note-printer/

After it loads, enter your tuning in the box at the lower left: D,A,D,F# and click "Set"

Click the "Chord" tab.
Select your "root" (A)
Select your "chord" (minor triad)

Voila! It shows all the notes on the fretboard that make up an Am.

Under the diagram it says "A minor triad notes: A C E" So, to complete the chord, you need to find a fingering that includes all three notes. The problem area looks like the C... there is one on string 3, third fret, so there is a chord there:

2-3-2-3 (low to high, like Jef Long said)

The next C is on string 1, fret 6. Using that, you can make:

x-0-2-6 (a bit of a stretch, and you have to avoid playing the low string)

7-7-7-6 (hard to finger)

Up higher, there's a C on the second and fourth strings at the 10th fret

x-0-10-10 (only 3 strings, might be great for chord melody)
7-7-10-10 (probably best bar chord, having the root in the bass)
10-0-10-10 (pretty cool, open chord up the neck, also with root in the bass)
10-12-10-10 (up there, but an easy bar form useful for other minors down the neck)

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Permalink Reply by Barry Lampke on November 30, 2010 at 2:20pm

Thanks to all! I promise I will look at the resources and learn more about the theory. Thanks for the Am!

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Permalink Reply by Bluesdog on December 1, 2010 at 8:45am

Are you using a slide? If so you could slide up to the 7th fret and put one finger at fret 6 behind the slide (side of the headstock, not the body side) on the F# string. Its tricky but works like a charm once you master it.

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