A guitar chord
The A major chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in A
- Notes
- A – C# – E
- Formula
- 1 – 3 – 5
- Name
- A major
AA · C# · E
5 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- Open
- G shape · 2nd fret
- E shape · 5th fret
- D shape · 7th fret
- C shape · 9th fret
What to play over A
Start with the chord's own notes — A, C#, E — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- A major pentatonic scale
The safe start: the chord’s own three notes plus the 2 and the 6, nothing that clashes.
- A major scale
The full major scale, when the chord is the song’s home chord (I).
- A Lydian mode
A brighter, floating sound with the ♯4 — when the chord is a IV.
- A Mixolydian mode
The ♭7 gives it a bluesy, rock edge — when the chord is a V.
Questions
What notes are in a A chord?
A has 3 notes: A, C#, E. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – 3 – 5.
What scale goes with A?
A major pentatonic scale is the place to start. The safe start: the chord’s own three notes plus the 2 and the 6, nothing that clashes.