Chords in the Key of A Major
The key of A major is built on the notes A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G#. Every chord below is drawn from that scale, so they all sound at home together.
The seven chords in A major
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | A | A C# E | Major |
| ii | Bm | B D F# | Minor |
| iii | C#m | C# E G# | Minor |
| IV | D | D F# A | Major |
| V | E | E G# B | Major |
| vi | F#m | F# A C# | Minor |
| vii° | G#dim | G# B D | Diminished |
Seventh chords in A major
Adding the next third on top of each triad gives the seventh chords of the key — the harmonic vocabulary most jazz and soul writing starts from.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Imaj7 | Amaj7 | A C# E G# |
| ii7 | Bm7 | B D F# A |
| iii7 | C#m7 | C# E G# B |
| IVmaj7 | Dmaj7 | D F# A C# |
| V7 | E7 | E G# B D |
| vi7 | F#m7 | F# A C# E |
| viiø7 | G#m7b5 | G# B D F# |
Common chord progressions in A major
| Numerals | Chords in A major | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| I – V – vi – IV | A – E – F#m – D | The most common progression in modern pop music. |
| I – IV – V – I | A – D – E – A | The classic three-chord cadence used across blues, folk and rock. |
| ii – V – I | Bm – E – A | The backbone of jazz harmony. |
| vi – IV – I – V | F#m – D – A – E | A softer, minor-flavoured rotation of the pop progression. |
Relative minor key
A major shares all of its notes with F# minor, so switching between the two changes the mood of a piece without changing a single note. See F# minor.
Scale reference
See the full A Major scale for its fingering, key signature, degrees and step pattern.
Other scales for this key: A major pentatonic.
Other keys
Frequently asked questions
What chords are in the key of A major?
The key of A major contains A, Bm, C#m, D, E, F#m, G#dim. These are the triads built on each degree of the A major scale.
What is the relative minor of A major?
The relative minor of A major is F# minor. Both keys use exactly the same notes but resolve to a different tonic.
How many sharps or flats does A major have?
The A major scale is spelled A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, which gives it 3 sharps and 0 flats.