The A Major chord is a three-note chord made up of A, C♯, and E. It is built from a root, major third, and perfect fifth.
Construction
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| A | Root | 1 |
| C♯ | Major 3rd | 3 |
| E | Perfect 5th | 5 |
How to Play the A Major
Right Hand (RH)
Place your right hand over the keys with the thumb on the root. Use the fingering: 1 – 3 – 5
Left Hand (LH)
For the left hand, start with your pinky on the root. Use the fingering: 5 – 3 – 1
A Major Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | A – C♯ – E |
| 1st Inversion | C♯ – E – A |
| 2nd Inversion | E – A – C♯ |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the A Major is the tonic (I) chord of A Major, whose key signature has 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯).
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Chords in the Key of A Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the A major scale:
How A Major functions in a key
The same chord takes on a different harmonic role depending on the key it appears in. Here is where A Major sits diatonically across the common keys:
- In A major, A Major is the I chord — the tonic.
- In C♯ minor, A Major is the VI chord — the tonic.
- In D major, A Major is the V chord — the dominant.
- In E major, A Major is the IV chord — a predominant.
- In B minor, A Major is the ♭VII chord — a mediant / color chord.
- In F♯ minor, A Major is the III chord — a mediant / color chord.
Common A Major Progressions
Pick a progression and press play. Change the key to hear it anywhere — every chord is built from the same theory as the chord pages, so the notes always agree.
The most fundamental major progression — the I, IV and V chords. The backbone of countless folk, country, blues and rock songs.