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A Major Piano Chord

Root
A
3rd
C#
5th
E
PLAY
→
←
E
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
A
C#
E

The Notes in an A Major Chord

The Root

The root of the chord is always the easiest to find because it's in the name of the chord! The root of an A Major chord is A.

The 3rd

The third of an A Major chord is C#. The third is up four half-steps from the Root.

Finding C# from A step by step:

  • Start on: A
  • Step 1: move up to Bb
  • Step 2: move up to B
  • Step 3: move up to C
  • Step 4: Land on C#
3rd
C#
Root
A
1
2
3
PLAY
  • Bb is a minor second above A.
  • B is a major 2nd above A.
  • C is a minor third above A.
  • C# is a major third above A.

The 5th

The fifth of an A Major chord is E. The fifth is down five half-steps from the Root.

Finding E from A step by step:

  • Start on: A
  • Step 1: move down to G#
  • Step 2: move down to G
  • Step 3: move down to F#
  • Step 4: move down to F
  • Step 5: Land on E
5th
E
Root
A
1
2
3
4
PLAY
  • G# is a minor second below A.
  • G is a major 2nd below A.
  • F# is a minor third below A.
  • F is a major third below A.
  • E is a fourth below A. The 5th is down a fourth? Confusing, right? The note E is down 5 half-steps from A, but up 7 half-steps from A:
5th
E
Root
A
1
2
3
4
5
6
PLAY

The Inversions of A Major

Root Position

Root
A
3rd
C#
5th
E
PLAY
E
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
A
C#
E

1st Inversion

3rd
C#
5th
E
Root
A
PLAY
E
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C#
E
A

2nd Inversion

5th
E
Root
A
3rd
C#
PLAY
E
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
E
A
C#

Other Major Chords

C, C#, Db, D, D#, Eb, E, F, F#, Gb, G, G#, Ab, A, A#, Bb, B

See all major chords

Other A Chords

A, Am, Adim, A+, AM7, Am7, A7, Adim7

See a list of 34 A chords