A Major Chord on Piano
The A chord (A major) is built from 3 notes: A – C# – E.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from A | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | root | 0 |
| C# | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| E | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | A – C# – E | A in the bass |
| 1st inversion | C# – E – A | C# in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | E – A – C# | E in the bass |
How the major chord is built
Every major chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 3 (4 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on A and applying that formula produces A, C#, E. Learn the formula once and you can build a major chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain A
Every note of A belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on A
Major chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a A chord?
A A chord contains the notes A, C#, E. Those are the 1, 3, 5 degrees measured from the root note A.
How do you play A on piano?
Place your thumb on A, then add C# and E above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.