Chords in the Key of A Major
A, Bm, C#m, D, E, F#m and G#dim, with shapes, audio and three progressions
A major is one of the friendliest keys for guitar. Its I, IV and V chords, A, D and E, are all open, and the open A and E strings ring with the tonic chord. The chords in A major are A, Bm, C#m, D, E, F#m and G#dim.
The key has three sharps, F#, C# and G#. They turn all three minor chords (Bm, C#m and F#m) into barre chords in their standard shapes, so the tips below include lighter versions.
The Chords of A Major at a Glance
Built on the A major scale (A B C# D E F# G#), one chord per note.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | 7th chord | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | A | A C# E | Amaj7 | Tonic: the home chord |
| ii | Bm | B D F# | Bm7 | Leads to the V chord |
| iii | C#m | C# E G# | C#m7 | Shares two notes with I |
| IV | D | D F# A | Dmaj7 | Moves away from home |
| V | E | E G# B | E7 | Pulls back to I |
| vi | F#m | F# A C# | F#m7 | Relative minor, a softer home |
| vii° | G#dim | G# B D | G#m7b5 | Tense, leans into I |
E7 (020100) is the V7 of A and one of the most useful open chords there is. Amaj7 and Dmaj7 add a soft, dreamy color.
Chord Diagrams in A Major
A, D and E are open chords. Bm, C#m and F#m are shown as barre chords, and G#dim is a small shape on the middle strings. Click a diagram for more voicings.
A - D - E - F#m: Hear the Key
The four chords behind most pop songs, in A. The F#m at the end is the relative minor.
Three Progressions to Learn in A
From fifties rock and roll to modern J-pop, all with chords from the chart above.
Three Chord Progression: A - D - E
The rock and roll trio. Play it as a shuffle with E7 and you are already halfway to a 12-bar blues in A.
Full page: chords in five keys and songs
50s Chord Progression: A - F#m - D - E
The loop of Stand by Me, which is in A in the original recording, and of countless doo-wop songs.
Royal Road Progression: D - E - C#m - F#m
D - E - C#m - F#m (IV-V-iii-vi)
A favorite of J-pop and anime soundtracks. It never touches the I chord, which gives it a yearning, unfinished feel.
Hear it in five keys, with songs that use it
Tips for Playing in A Major
- Lighter minor chords: Bm7 (x20202), C#m7 (x42100) and F#m (xx4222) cover the three barre chords with much less effort.
- No capo in your bag for A? With a capo on the 2nd fret, the G major shapes (G, C, D, Em) give you A, D, E and F#m.
- F# minor is the relative minor of A, so the F# minor scale uses the same notes as the A major scale.
Next Steps
- F# minor scale, the relative minor
- A major scale on the fretboard
- How to find the key of a song
- Circle of fifths, to see how the keys connect
- Transpose chords to another key
- All chord progressions
Chords in other keys: E minor · G major · C major · D major · F major · A minor · E major
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What chords are in A major?
A (I), Bm (ii), C#m (iii), D (IV), E (V), F#m (vi) and G#dim (vii°).
What are the 3 main chords in the key of A?
A, D and E, the I, IV and V chords. All three are open chords on guitar.
What is the relative minor of A major?
F# minor. It has the same three sharps: F#, C# and G#.
How do I play in A major with G chord shapes?
Put a capo on the 2nd fret. G, C, D and Em shapes then sound as A, D, E and F#m.
