Piano chord

A Major Piano Chord

The A Major chord on piano is made of the notes A, C♯ and E. Bright, happy, and stable. The most common chord type.

A Major chord on a piano keyboard: A, C♯, E C5C6 A C♯ E

A A – C♯ – E

Tap any key to hear it.

Name any chord from its keys in the chord finder →

What notes are in A Major?

3 notes, built 1 – 3 – 5 up from A.

Notes
A – C♯ – E
Formula
1 – 3 – 5
Semitones from the root
0 – 4 – 7
Symbol
A
Chord type
Major, 3 notes

How to play A Major on piano

  • Right hand: A (1), C♯ (3), E (5). Fingers 1 – 3 – 5, thumb on A.
  • Left hand: A (5), C♯ (3), E (1). Fingers 5 – 3 – 1, little finger on A.

Fingers are numbered 1 (thumb) to 5 (little finger) on both hands.

Advertisement

A Major inversions

Each inversion puts a different note of the chord in the bass. Written as a slash chord: A/C♯, A/E.

A Major root position on piano: A, C♯, E A C♯ E
Root position A A – C♯ – E RH 1 – 3 – 5 · LH 5 – 3 – 1
A Major 1st inversion on piano: C♯, E, A C♯ E A
1st inversion A/C♯ C♯ – E – A RH 1 – 2 – 5 · LH 5 – 3 – 1
A Major 2nd inversion on piano: E, A, C♯ E A C♯
2nd inversion A/E E – A – C♯ RH 1 – 3 – 5 · LH 5 – 2 – 1

Progressions with A Major

Press play: the chords move across the keyboard as they sound, voiced so your hand barely moves.

Pop progression

in A major

  1. I A
  2. V E
  3. vi F♯m
  4. IV D
Pop progression in A major: A, E, F♯m, D C♯ E A

Three-chord classic

in E major

  1. I E
  2. IV A
  3. V B
  4. I E
Three-chord classic in E major: E, A, B, E B E G♯

Can you find A Major?

Tap the notes on the keyboard, then check. Six chords, starting with this one.

1 / 6 Tap the notes of A Major (A)

Score 0

Any octave, any order. Each key you tap plays.

Practice keyboard: tap the notes of the chord

What key is A Major in?

The keys whose scale contains every note of A, with the chord’s Roman numeral in each.

Major keys

  • A majorI
  • E majorIV
  • D majorV

Minor keys

  • F♯ minorIII
  • D minorV (harmonic minor)
  • C♯ minorVI
  • B minorVII

A Major chord FAQ

What notes are in the A Major chord?

A Major has 3 notes: A, C♯ and E. Its formula is 1 – 3 – 5, counted up from A.

How do you play A Major on the piano?

Put your right thumb on A and play A, C♯ and E with fingers 1 – 3 – 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 – 3 – 1, little finger on A.

What are the inversions of A Major?

1st inversion: C♯, E, A (A/C♯). 2nd inversion: E, A, C♯ (A/E).

What key is A Major in?

A belongs to A major (I), E major (IV), D major (V), F♯ minor (III), C♯ minor (VI) and B minor (VII).

Other A chords

Major chords on every root

Piano chord chart: all 264 chords Open A in the chord finder Free PDF chord chart Play it on the virtual piano