Beginner Guitar - A Minor and A Major Chord Shapes

In this exercise, we practice making the A minor chord shape,

which is the same as the E minor chord shape, but everything is moved up one string.

The A Major is made by using the pinky finger to sharpen the note on the B string, which is the 3rd scale degree, up from a minor 3rd, to a major3rd.

It would be unusual to play both the A minor and A major chords in the same song,

But this exercise is good for ear training, and listening to the difference between a minor and major sound, which is usually dictated by whether the 3rd scale degree is minor or major

3 half steps for minor 3rd

4 half steps for major 3rd