Also written A, Amaj or AM
A major contains the notes A, C♯, and E. The open shape is a beginner-friendly grip with a bright, ringing sound.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
A major is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, with the major third C♯ giving it its bright quality. Compare it to A minor, which lowers the third to C.
A major is the tonic in A major, so it anchors progressions like A–D–E, the I–IV–V. It also appears in D major and E major keys. Use it for strummed rock, country, and pop.
The open position is the easiest and most common, with A in the bass. The 5th fret barre shape gives the same voicing higher up. For a different bass, use the A/C♯ inversion to put C♯ in the bass.
A major is played in open position as × 0 2 2 2 0: barre your index finger across fret 2. The A and high e strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Tip — The index barre must fret three strings cleanly while the open high e rings out.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (5) |
A major is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 7 6 5 5: barre your index finger across 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.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 3 | E (5) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 4 | A (1) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 2 | C♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
A major is played at the 12th fret as × 12 14 14 14 12: barre your index finger across fret 12, middle finger on the D string at fret 14, ring finger on the G string at fret 14 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 14. The low E string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 14 | 2 | E (5) |
| 3 (G) | 14 | 3 | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 14 | 4 | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
A major is played at the 2nd fret as × 4 2 2 2 ×: barre your index finger across fret 2 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 4. The low E and high e strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 4 | C♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
A major is played at the 7th fret as 9 7 7 9 × ×: ring finger on the low 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. The B and high e strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9 | 3 | C♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 1 | E (5) |
| 4 (D) | 7 | 2 | A (1) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
A major is written as A, Amaj, or AM. There is no alternate root spelling for A major.
A major has a major third (C♯), while A minor has a minor third (C). This changes the chord from bright to somber.
The low E is a chord tone, but it is muted to preserve the A bass note and keep the voicing clear.