Amaj7 chord on guitar

Amaj7 is A, C♯, E and G♯. The easiest shape is x-0-2-1-2-0. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

x-0-2-1-2-0 · open · easy

Notes: A · C♯ · E · G♯
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · 7
First shape: x-0-2-1-2-0

How to play Amaj7 on guitar

Shape 1, x-0-2-1-2-0, reading from the low E string on the left:

G♯: index finger, 1st fret of the G string.
E: middle finger, 2nd fret of the D string.
C♯: ring finger, 2nd fret of the B string.
Leave the A and high E strings open: A and E.
Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.

Other ways to play Amaj7

5-7-6-6-5-5: barre shape at the 5th fret, medium. The root is on the low E string, so you can slide this shape to play any major seventh chord.
x-12-14-13-14-12: barre shape at the 12th fret, medium. This is the open Amaj7 shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.
x-12-11-9-9-9: partial barre shape at the 9th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

Capo shortcuts for Amaj7

A capo turns an open chord into Amaj7: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open Gmaj7 shape (3-2-0-0-0-2), capo on the 4th fret and play the open Fmaj7 shape (x-x-3-2-1-0), capo on the 5th fret and play the open Emaj7 shape (0-2-1-1-0-0) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open Dmaj7 shape (x-x-0-2-2-2). Handy when the rest of the song's chords also have open shapes in that position.

Moving between Amaj7 and its neighbours

The chords Amaj7 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

Dmaj7 (IV in A major): Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0) to Dmaj7 (x-x-0-2-2-2): your index finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the B string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the high E string at the same fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for A and C♯, which stay put while the rest moves. Dmaj7 on guitar
E7 (V in A major): Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0) to E7 (0-2-0-1-0-0): your index finger stays put, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret. An easy one to get up to speed. The two chords share E and G♯, which is why the change sounds smooth. E7 on guitar
F♯m7 (vi in A major): Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0) to F♯m7 (2-4-2-2-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 4th fret. Listen for A, C♯ and E, which stay put while the rest moves. F♯m7 on guitar

Amaj7 is a major seventh chord: a major triad with the note a half step below the octave added. Amaj7 works as a relaxed home chord; swap it in for plain A at the end of a phrase. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

A short Amaj7 drill

Before strumming, play x-0-2-1-2-0 note by note: A then E then G♯ then C♯ then E. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Then switch to 5-7-6-6-5-5 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Where Amaj7 shows up

In A major, ii–V–I on guitar is Bm7 (x-2-0-2-0-2), E7 (0-2-0-1-0-0) and Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0). About the jazz cadence.

Amaj7 on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try Amaj7 on ukulele or Amaj7 on piano, or compare them on the Amaj7 chord page.

Related A chords on guitar

Other major seventh chords

Amaj7 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Amaj7 on guitar?

A, C♯, E and G♯. In the x-0-2-1-2-0 shape the strings play A (A string, open), E (D string), G♯ (G string), C♯ (B string) and E (high E string, open), so E is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Amaj7 on guitar?

x-0-2-1-2-0, shape 1 above. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is Amaj7 a barre chord on guitar?

Not usually: x-0-2-1-2-0 needs no barre. The barre versions come later, higher on the neck.

Which string does Amaj7 start on?

In the x-0-2-1-2-0 shape the lowest string you play is the A string, open, which is A, the root. Skip the low E string.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes A, C♯, E and G♯ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.