A major chord
- Ala
- C#do#
- Emi
A chord notes
A major stacks a major third on its root and a minor third on top, four semitones and then three. It sounds bright and settled, and chord charts write it as A.
| Note | Interval from the root | Semitones |
|---|---|---|
| Ala | Root1 | 0 |
| C#do# | Major third3 | 4 |
| Emi | Perfect fifth5 | 7 |
A chord inversions
An inversion plays the same notes with a different one at the bottom. Using A's inversions keeps your hand close to the next chord, so you move less between chords.
Root position
A, C#, E
- Right hand
- 1-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-1
First inversion
C#, E, A
- Right hand
- 1-2-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-1
Second inversion
E, A, C#
- Right hand
- 1-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-2-1
Keys that use A
In these major keys A is one of the key's own chords. The numeral beside each key is its place in that key, as chord charts write it.
- D majorV
- E majorIV
- A majorI
Piano practice that remembers
The chords are just the start
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There's a metronome too
Online metronomeKeep your chord changes even, with accents and a speed trainerFrequently asked questions
What notes are in the A chord?
A major (A) is A, C#, E. In solfège that's la, do#, mi.
Which fingers play A?
In root position, the right hand plays 1-3-5 and the left hand 5-3-1, counting from the lowest note. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5.
Where does the A chord usually show up?
A major chord is the home chord of its own key and the IV and V of two neighbouring keys, so A turns up at the start and end of phrases and in almost every pop accompaniment.