A Major Chord: Guitar, Piano and Notes
The A Major chord is built on the root note A. Its notes are A, C♯ and E.
Major chords feel bright, stable and resolved. A root, a major third and a perfect fifth give them a happy, confident sound. Most popular music is built on them.
A Major on piano
Switch to the interactive diagram to hear the chord, change voicing and swap finger numbers for note names.
To play A Major on piano, place your right-hand thumb on A, middle finger on C♯, and little finger on E. Press the keys together and listen for an even sound. Practice moving in and out of the chord slowly, then bring in a metronome.
A Major on guitar
Switch to the interactive diagram to hear the chord, change voicing and swap finger numbers for note names.
On guitar, A Major is commonly played with the voicing shown above. Strum only the strings marked as active in the diagram.
Play the chord
A Major chord notes
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | 0 | A |
| 3 | Major third | 4 | C♯(C#) |
| 5 | Perfect fifth | 7 | E |
How to use the A Major chord
The A Major chord is built from a root, a major third and a perfect fifth. Start at the root A and stack the intervals to get the whole chord: A, C♯ and E. The same formula gives you the chord in any other key.
You'll find major chords in almost every style of popular music: rock anthems, country ballads, pop hits and hymns. They commonly appear as the I, IV and V chords in a major key.
Famous Songs in A Major
These well-known tracks all feature the A Major chord - a great way to put it in musical context.
- 1Let Her GoPassenger
- 2Free FallinTom Petty
- 3Horse With No NameAmerica
- 4Wild ThingThe Troggs
- 5Twist and ShoutThe Beatles
Common progressions
The A Major chord works beautifully in these progressions. Click a chord name to jump to its page.
Scales that contain A
These scales include A as one of their diatonic chords. Use them to find melodies and improvisation ideas that fit perfectly.
Related chords to A Major
Once A Major feels comfortable, the chords below open up new progressions. Each one shares notes, keys or a harmonic function with it, which is what makes it the natural place to go next.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A Major chord?
Is the A Major chord major or minor?
How do you play A Major on piano?
How do you play A Major on guitar?
What chords work well with A Major?
Keep exploring
Deepen your understanding of the A Major chord with our other music theory tools.