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E A D G B E

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Key

Chords in A major

A major is built from the notes A, B, C#, D, E, F# and G#. Its scale carries 3 sharps. Harmonising that scale in thirds gives seven chords — 3 majors, 3 minors and 1 diminished — starting on A as the I. The chord on the fifth degree is E, a major V, so A major has the leading tone that makes a E-to-A cadence sound final.

Beyond those seven, A major commonly borrows Am (i), Bdim (iiø), C (bIII), Dm (iv) and Em (v) from the parallel minor — the mixture chords that give a progression somewhere unexpected to go.

The seven chords

IAA major, open position, capo 0x02220iiBmB minor, open position, capo 0x20402iiiC#mC# minor, position 4, capo 04frx46650IVDD major, open position, capo 0xx0232VEE major, open position, capo 0022100viF#mF# minor, open position, capo 0244222viiøG#dimG# diminished, open position, capo 0420404

Extended to four notes each, the same seven degrees give Amaj7, Bm7, C#m7, Dmaj7, E7, F#m7, G#m7b5.

Borrowed chords

iAmA minor, open position, capo 0x02210iiøBdimB diminished, open position, capo 0x2343xbIIICC major, open position, capo 0x32010ivDmD minor, open position, capo 0xx0231vEmE minor, open position, capo 0022000bVIFF major, open position, capo 0133211bVIIGG major, open position, capo 0320003
Capo

Capo 2 and play G major shapes to sound A major.

All eight capo positions for A major →

Related keys

Open A major in the explorer →