HandyChords

A chord on guitar

A Major. Notes: A, C# and E.

A guitar chord diagram, open position×1E52AR3C#3AEAC#E
Open position · Easy

How to play A

  1. Put your index finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
  2. Put your middle finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A).
  3. Put your ring finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 2 (C#).
  4. Let the open A and high E strings ring.
  5. Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
  6. Strum from the A string down.
Lowest note: A (the root)Strings played: 5 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play A

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
A guitar chord, open position×1E52AR3C#3AEAC#E

Open position

Easy
A guitar chord, barre at fret 22fr×1E51AR1C#34ARAEAC#A

Barre at fret 2

Medium
A guitar chord, fret 7 position7fr×1AR2E54AR3C#3AAEAC#

Fret 7 position

Hard
A guitar chord, barre at fret 55fr1AR3E54AR2C#31E51ARAEAC#EA

Barre at fret 5

Hard

Notes and theory

Aroot
C#3 · major third
E5 · perfect fifth

The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on. The formula is 1 3 5, and you will also see it written as Amaj and AM.

Keys that use A

D major VE major IVA major IC sharp minor VIF sharp minor IIIB minor VII
A on ukuleleA on piano

More A chords

All A guitar chords
Am guitar chord diagram×2E53AR1Cb3AEACEAmminorA7 guitar chord diagram×2E53C#3AEGC#EA7dominant seventhAm7 guitar chord diagram×2E51Cb3AEGCEAm7minor seventhAmaj7 guitar chord diagram×2E51G#73C#3AEG#C#EAmaj7major seventhAsus4 guitar chord diagram×1AR2D4ADADEAsus4suspended fourthAsus2 guitar chord diagram×2E53ARAEABEAsus2suspended secondAdim guitar chord diagram××1Ebb53AR2Cb3AEbACAdimdiminishedAaug guitar chord diagram×4F#52AR3C#31F#5AFAC#FAaugaugmentedA6 guitar chord diagram×1E51AR1C#31F#6AEAC#F#A6major sixthA9 guitar chord diagram2fr4AR3C#31E5AC#EGBEA9dominant ninthAadd9 guitar chord diagram×1E53B92C#3AEBC#EAadd9added ninthAm7b5 guitar chord diagram××2Ebb53Cb3AEbGCAm7b5half-diminishedAdim7 guitar chord diagram×1Ebb53AR2Cb34Gbbb7AEbACGbAdim7diminished seventhA7sus4 guitar chord diagram×2E53D4AEGDEA7sus4dominant seventh suspended fourthA5 guitar chord diagram××××1E5AEA5power chordAm6 guitar chord diagram×2E53AR1Cb34F#6AEACF#Am6minor sixthAm9 guitar chord diagram×2E54B91Cb33Gb7AEBCGAm9minor ninthAmaj9 guitar chord diagram×1E53B91C#34G#7AEBC#G#Amaj9major ninth

A with another bass note

A/AbA/BA/BbA/CA/C#A/DA/EA/EbA/FA/F#A/G

major chords in every key

CC#DD#EFF#GG#AA#B

Questions

What notes are in the A chord?

A (A major) is made of three notes: A (root), C# (major third) and E (perfect fifth).

How do you play A on guitar?

The easiest A is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E). Put your middle finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A). Put your ring finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 2 (C#).

Is A hard to play on guitar?

No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 3 fretted notes plus open strings.

What is the difference between A and Am?

Only the third changes. A major uses a major third and sounds bright; A minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.

What key is A in?

A belongs to 6 keys: D major (as the V chord), E major (as the IV chord), A major (as the I chord), C sharp minor (as the VI chord), F sharp minor (as the III chord) and B minor (as the VII chord).

What does a major chord sound like?

The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on.