A Chord on Guitar
Notes A C♯ E. Start with open A (x 0 2 2 2 0): three fingers side by side on fret 2 of strings 4, 3 and 2, string 6 not played.
Chord · A major
Open A · x 0 2 2 2 0
open strings
E-shape barre (fret 5) · 5 7 7 6 5 5
barre, movable
D-shape, 4 strings (fret 7) · x x 7 9 10 9
movable, no open strings
A-shape barre (fret 12) · x 12 14 14 14 12
barre, movable
1 A3 C♯5 E
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): open
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 2
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 2
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): open
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 5
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 5
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 7
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 7
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 6
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 5
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 7
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 9
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 10
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), fret 9
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 12
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 12
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 14
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 14
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 14
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 12
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | root |
| 3 | C♯ | major 3rd |
| 5 | E | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 3 5 (major).
Also written A major.
More on this chord type: Open (cowboy) chords
Capo shapes that sound as A
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
G shape + capo 2
E shape + capo 5
D shape + capo 7
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Progressions with A
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| A major I–IV–V–I | A – D – E – A | |
| A major I–V–vi–IV | A – E – F♯m – D | |
| D major I–vi–IV–V | D – Bm – G – A | |
| D major vi–IV–I–V | Bm – G – D – A | |
| C♯ minor i–VI–III–VII | C♯m – A – E – B |
Keys that contain A
| Key | A is the |
|---|---|
| A major | I |
| D major | V |
| E major | IV |
| C♯ minor | VI |
| F♯ minor | III |
| B minor | VII |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing A: what goes wrong
Three fingers, one fret
Index on string 4, middle on string 3, ring on string 2 all crowd into fret 2. Set them on a slight diagonal instead of in a straight line across the fret. If they still do not fit, some players flatten one finger across all three strings.
Muted high e
The ring finger on string 2 easily leans on the open high e. Come down on the fingertip with the knuckle arched, then press Check each string: the last note (E) must ring.
Start the strum on string 5
The open A string is the root and should be the lowest note. The low E is a chord tone (the 5th), but under A it sounds heavy, so the shape leaves it out.
Related chords
Learn and practise A
- Metronomepractise the change to A at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in A?
A, C♯, E: the 1, 3, 5 of the A major chord.
Which strings do you strum for A?
Strings 5 to 1. String 6 is left out so that A, the root on the open fifth string, is the lowest note.