A Major Scale
A major has a warm, rich resonance — especially on guitar where open strings ring sympathetically. It's a highly versatile key that spans classic rock, country, and R&B.
Notes in A Major
The A major scale contains seven notes: A — B — C♯ — D — E — F♯ — G♯. All major scales follow the same interval formula — tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone (T T S T T T S) — applied starting on A.
Key Signature
The key signature tells you which notes are permanently sharped or flatted throughout a piece. A major has 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯). Its relative minor is F♯ minor — a scale with identical notes but a different tonal centre.
Diatonic Chords
Every major scale generates seven diatonic chords — one built on each scale degree. For A major those are:
In detail: A major, B minor, C♯ minor, D major, E major, F♯ minor, G♯ diminished. The I, IV, and V chords are major (the 'primary' triads); ii, iii, and vi are minor; and the vii chord is diminished.
Famous Songs in A Major
Many iconic recordings were written or recorded in A major:
- "Hotel California" – Eagles
- "Layla" – Eric Clapton
- "Don't Stop Believin'" – Journey
- "Africa" – Toto
How to Practise A Major
Try the A major pentatonic scale alongside the full A major scale to hear how the pentatonic is a 'subset' with a cleaner melodic quality.
Use the MusoKit scale explorer to see A major on an interactive piano keyboard and guitar fretboard, play it back with audio, and explore all seven diatonic modes built from its notes.
Modes of A Major
The seven modes of A major each begin on a different scale degree while keeping the same notes. Starting on the first note gives you A Ionian (identical to A major); starting on the sixth gives you F♯ Aeolian (natural minor). Open the scale explorer and select each mode to hear how the tonal character shifts while the notes remain constant.
FAQs
What are the notes in the A major scale?
The A major scale contains: A — B — C♯ — D — E — F♯ — G♯. There are seven notes, following the whole-step/half-step formula W–W–H–W–W–W–H.
What chords are in the key of A major?
The seven diatonic chords of A major are: A major, B minor, C♯ minor, D major, E major, F♯ minor, G♯ diminished. The I, IV, and V chords (A, D, E) are the primary triads and form the backbone of most A major progressions.
What is the relative minor of A major?
The relative minor of A major is F♯ minor. They share the same key signature (3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯)) but have different tonal centres — A major sounds bright and resolved, while F♯ minor sounds darker and more emotionally ambiguous.
How many sharps or flats does A major have?
A major has 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯). Each sharp or flat is applied throughout the entire piece unless cancelled by a natural sign.
What is the A major scale used for?
A major has a warm, rich resonance — especially on guitar where open strings ring sympathetically. It's a highly versatile key that spans classic rock, country, and R&B. It suits a wide variety of music genres and is an essential scale for any musician to know.