A major chord on guitar (A)

A is A, C♯ and E. The easiest shape is x-0-2-2-2-0. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

x-0-2-2-2-0 · open · easy

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

How to play A on guitar

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

Index finger: D string, 2nd fret (E).
Middle finger: G string, 2nd fret (A).
Ring finger: B string, 2nd fret (C♯).
Let the open A and high E strings ring (A and E).
Don't play the low E string: start your strum on the A string.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.

Other ways to play A

5-7-7-6-5-5: barre shape at the 5th fret, medium. Root on the 6th string: move it up or down and it names a different major chord.
x-12-14-14-14-12: barre shape at the 12th fret, medium. The root is on the A string; it's the A shape moved up the neck.
x-12-11-9-10-9: partial barre shape at the 9th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

A the capo way

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open G shape (3-2-0-0-0-3), capo on the 5th fret and play the open E shape (0-2-2-1-0-0) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open D shape (x-x-0-2-3-2). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

A chord changes

These are the changes you'll meet most often with A, using the first shape of each chord.

D (IV in A major): A (x-0-2-2-2-0) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, your middle finger lands on the high E string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the B string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for A, which stays put while the rest moves. D on guitar
E (V in A major): A (x-0-2-2-2-0) to E (0-2-2-1-0-0): your index finger lands on the G string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 2nd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared note: E. E on guitar
F♯m (vi in A major): A (x-0-2-2-2-0) to F♯m (2-4-4-2-2-2): 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, the ring finger goes to the D string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared notes: A and C♯. F♯m on guitar

A is a major triad: bright, settled and stable. Major chords are the backbone of most songs; A is home in A major and a common IV or V in the keys around it. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice A in two minutes

Arpeggiate x-0-2-2-2-0 from the lowest string: A, E, A, C♯, E. Then strum it and listen for the same 5 notes together. Finish by moving between x-0-2-2-2-0 and 5-7-7-6-5-5 to learn two positions of the same chord.

Keys and progressions with A

In A major, I–V–vi–IV on guitar is A (x-0-2-2-2-0), E (0-2-2-1-0-0), F♯m (2-4-4-2-2-2) and D (x-x-0-2-3-2). About the pop progression.

In A major, I–IV–V on guitar is A (x-0-2-2-2-0), D (x-x-0-2-3-2) and E (0-2-2-1-0-0). About the three-chord progression.

In A major, I–vi–IV–V on guitar is A (x-0-2-2-2-0), F♯m (2-4-4-2-2-2), D (x-x-0-2-3-2) and E (0-2-2-1-0-0). About the 50s progression.

A on piano and ukulele

A on piano and ukulele uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Related A chords on guitar

Other major chords

A on guitar: questions

What notes are in A on guitar?

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

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

x-0-2-2-2-0, the first shape on this page. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is A a barre chord on guitar?

Not in its common form: x-0-2-2-2-0 needs no barre. The barre versions come later, higher on the neck.

Which string does A start on?

In the x-0-2-2-2-0 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♯ and E and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.