The A major chord contains 3 notes: A – C# – E (root, major 3rd, perfect 5th). On guitar, the open position is x02220 — three fingers clustered on the 2nd fret. It is the tonic chord of A major and a cornerstone of rock, blues, and country guitar.
The A major chord is one of the foundational chords in Western music. Containing just three notes — A – C# – E — it forms the tonic chord of the key of A major and appears as a diatonic chord in several other keys.
The A Major Chord
Character & Usage
Bright and versatile. The open A chord clusters three fingers on the same fret — tricky at first but muscle memory develops quickly.
Rock, blues, country, pop. A is a guitar staple and leads naturally to D and E for the classic I–IV–V.
How to Play the A Major Chord
The standard open position is: x02220 — three fingers on 2nd fret (4th, 3rd, 2nd strings). Take it slowly — focus on getting each string to ring cleanly before worrying about speed. Muted strings (indicated by 'x') should be avoided with your fretting hand by letting fingers lightly touch them.
Explore Chord Voicings Interactively
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Open Chord Finder →Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the A major chord?
The A major chord contains A – C# – E. Built from: Root – Major 3rd – Perfect 5th.
How do you play the A major chord on guitar?
x02220 — three fingers on 2nd fret (4th, 3rd, 2nd strings)
What keys is the A major chord in?
The A major chord naturally appears in: A major, D major, E major, F# minor.
What is the difference between A major and A minor?
A major contains A – C# – E. A minor replaces the major 3rd with a minor 3rd — giving it a darker, more melancholic sound while keeping the same root and fifth.
See also: Chord Finder · Chord Progression Generator · Scale Explorer