How to play A: a major built on A, with 6 ways to play it, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: an open-position shape using 2 open strings, played near the nut. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 0 2 2 2 0 (x = not played).
| Note | A | C# | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | 5 |
A is a major with A as its root. The full theoretical spelling is A, C#, E. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
A is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 3 major keys and 4 minor keys. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
Free chord sheets on Guitar Scribble with A in them. Each opens with the chords over the lyrics and plays in any key.
All tools are free with no download. Customize the fingering, print it, or drop it straight into a chart.
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A is spelled A, C#, E: the root, 3rd, 5th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 0 2 2 2 0 (x means the string is not played). Fret the D, G and B strings at the 2nd fret (one finger per string, or one finger laid across all 3). The A and high E strings ring open. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
A belongs to 7 keys: A major (the I chord), E major (the IV chord), D major (the V chord), C# minor (the VI), F# minor (the III), B minor (the VII) and D minor (the V, from the harmonic minor).
