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A chord on bass (A major)
Also called or written A, Amaj, AM or A chord
A major contains the notes A, C♯, and E. This intermediate shape stretches the fretting hand across four frets, making clean note separation the main challenge.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5
How do you play an A major chord on bass?
A major is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 7 6: index finger on the E string at fret 5, ring finger on the A string at fret 7, pinky finger on the D string at fret 7 and middle finger on the G string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5 | 1 | A (1) |
| 3 (A) | 7 | 3 | E (5) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 4 | A (1) |
| 1 (G) | 6 | 2 | C♯ (3) |
IntermediateThe stretch from the index finger on the 5th fret to the pinky on the 7th fret requires wide finger independence.
A/C♯ inversion
A major is played at the 7th fret as 9 7 7 9: ring finger on the E string at fret 9, index finger on the A string at fret 7, middle finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 3 | C♯ (3) |
| 3 (A) | 7 | 1 | E (5) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 2 | A (1) |
| 1 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (5) |
A/E inversion · fret 6
A major is played at the 6th fret as × 7 7 6: middle finger on the A string at fret 7, ring finger on the D string at fret 7 and index finger on the G string at fret 6. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 7 | 2 | E (5) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 3 | A (1) |
| 1 (G) | 6 | 1 | C♯ (3) |
A/E inversion · fret 11
A major is played at the 11th fret as 12 12 11 ×: middle finger on the E string at fret 12, ring finger on the A string at fret 12 and index finger on the D string at fret 11. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 2 | E (5) |
| 3 (A) | 12 | 3 | A (1) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 1 | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
A major is built from the formula 1, 3, 5: root A, major third C♯, and perfect fifth E. The major third, four semitones above the root, gives the chord its bright, stable quality. Lower that third by one semitone to C and you get A minor, the parallel minor with a darker sound.
What goes wrong with A major?
- Letting the ring finger flatten onto the 2nd string, causing a buzz.
- Not pressing the pinky firmly enough on the 2nd string, producing a muted note.
When to use it
A major appears as the I chord in the I–IV–V–I progression A–D–E–A in A major. It also works as the IV chord in E major and the V chord in D major. Use A major for bright rock, country, and pop bass lines that need a strong root.
Changing to and from A major
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 3rd fret gives G major.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 6th fret gives B♭ major.
Which voicing to use
The 5th fret voicing puts the root A in the bass, giving a solid, grounded sound. For a lighter feel, use the A/C♯ inversion, which places the third in the bass and adds forward motion. The A/E inversion with the fifth in the bass works well when you want a less assertive low end.
Other A chords
Common questions
How is A major written in chord charts?
A major is written as A, Amaj, or AM. There is no enharmonic spelling for A major.
What is the difference between A major and A minor?
A major has a major third (C♯), while A minor has a minor third (C). This single note changes the chord from bright to dark. The fifth, E, is the same in both chords.
Can I play A major in a lower register?
Yes, the A/E inversion at the 5th fret on the 3rd string and 6th fret on the 1st string omits the low E string. This voicing sits higher and works well when the bass needs to stay out of the kick drum's range.