Chords in the Key of A Major

The seven chords of A Major with guitar diagrams, the progressions you will meet most, capo options, and free songs to play in this key.

The A Major Scale and Its Chords

The A Major scale is A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#. Build a chord on each note using only the scale's own notes and you get the seven diatonic chords below. Songs in A Major are made mostly of these, with the I, IV and V doing most of the work.

I
A X
ii
Bm X
iii
C#m 4X
IV
D XX
V
E
vi
F#m
vii°
G#dim XX2131
G#dim7 shown, the usual choice here; plain G#dim

With sevenths: Amaj7 (Imaj7), Bm7 (iim7), C#m7 (iiim7), Dmaj7 (IVmaj7), E7 (V7), F#m7 (vim7), G#m7b5 (viim7b5). Tap any chord for every voicing, the notes and how to play it.

Common Progressions in A Major

NumeralsIn A MajorHeard in
I V vi IVA  E  F#m  Dthe pop progression
I IV VA  D  Ethree-chord songs, blues and folk
vi IV I VF#m  D  A  Ethe other pop progression
I vi IV VA  F#m  D  Ethe 50s progression
ii V IBm  E  Ajazz standards

Write one out in the free Chord Progression Chart, or train your ear to hear them with Name the Progression.

Playing in A Major With a Capo

A Major is one of the open-chord keys: its main chords sit near the nut, so no capo is needed. A capo still gives you other voicings of the same key: capo 2 with G shapes, or capo 5 with E shapes, or capo 7 with D shapes.

Every key and fret is on the guitar capo chart, and the Chord Sheet Maker rewrites any song's chords for a capo or a new key.

Songs in the Key of A Major

Free chord sheets on Guitar Scribble served in A Major, chords over the lyrics, printable.

26 more in the chord sheet library: open any song and pick A from its key switcher.

Related Keys

Relative minor: F# minor (same notes and chords, a different home). Parallel minor: A minor (same root, a different mood).

Use This Key

📝 Write a song sheet in A 🎼 Chart a progression 🔍 Name a chord you play

All free, in the browser. The Chord Sheet Maker transposes any sheet into A Major with one click.

Questions About the Key of A Major

What chords are in the key of A Major?

The seven chords built on the A Major scale are A, Bm, C#m, D, E, F#m, G#dim. As roman numerals: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°.

What is the relative minor of A Major?

F# minor. It shares every note and every chord with A Major; the difference is which chord feels like home.

Do I need a capo to play in A Major?

No. A Major is one of the open-chord keys, so its main chords are played near the nut without a capo. You can still use one: capo 2 with G shapes, or capo 5 with E shapes, or capo 7 with D shapes.

← Browse all guitar chords