A major chord on piano (A)
A is A, C♯ and E. A sits between the last two black keys of the three. Tap Play, then slow it down.
root position · A–C♯–E · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- A · C♯ · E
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
How to play A on piano
Start on A, count 4 half steps up to C♯ then 3 half steps up to E. Press the 3 keys together and that's A.
- Right hand: 1 on A, 3 on C♯ and 5 on E.
- Left hand: 5 on A, 3 on C♯ and 1 on E.
- On the keyboard it's white, black and white keys, the same pattern as D and E, so your hand shape carries over.
A inversions
- root position: A–C♯–E. Fingers 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: C♯–E–A, C♯ lowest. RH 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: E–A–C♯, E lowest. Right hand 1-3-5.
Inversions keep the same notes and change which one is lowest. Moving between chords, pick the inversion that keeps your hand closest to where it already is.
Changing from A to the chords around it
Songs rarely hold A for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.
- D (IV in A major): A to D: play D in 2nd inversion (A–D–F♯) and A stays under the same finger, while C♯ moves up to D and E up to F♯. D on piano
- E (V in A major): A to E: play E in 1st inversion (G♯–B–E) and E stays under the same finger, while A moves down to G♯ and C♯ down to B. E on piano
- F♯m (vi in A major): A to F♯m: play F♯m in 1st inversion (A–C♯–F♯) and A and C♯ stay under the same fingers, while E moves up to F♯. F♯m on piano
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 piano you hear it best with the keys pressed together, then rolled.
Getting A under your fingers
Roll the chord up and back down, A, C♯, E, C♯, A, before playing it as a block. Then climb the inversions: A–C♯–E, then C♯–E–A, then E–A–C♯.
The keys of A
A is a major chord, 1–3–5 from A. Root position, from the bottom: how A is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| C♯ | black key | RH 3 · LH 3 | major third |
| E | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | perfect fifth |
Keys and progressions with A
In A major, I–V–vi–IV on piano is A (A–C♯–E), E (E–G♯–B), F♯m (F♯–A–C♯) and D (D–F♯–A). About the pop progression.
In A major, I–IV–V on piano is A (A–C♯–E), D (D–F♯–A) and E (E–G♯–B). About the three-chord progression.
In A major, I–vi–IV–V on piano is A (A–C♯–E), F♯m (F♯–A–C♯), D (D–F♯–A) and E (E–G♯–B). About the 50s progression.
A on guitar and ukulele
The same notes on another instrument: A on guitar and A on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.
Related A chords on piano
Other major chords
A on piano: questions
What notes are in A on piano?
A, C♯ and E: A (white key), C♯ (black key) and E (white key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play A on piano?
Press A, C♯ and E together (1 black, 2 white). Right hand: 1 on A, 3 on C♯ and 5 on E.
What are the inversions of A?
1st inversion (C♯–E–A) and 2nd inversion (E–A–C♯), after root position (A–C♯–E). Only the lowest note changes.
What does A look like on the keyboard?
white, black and white keys, the same pattern as D and E, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Every shape above plays only A, C♯ and E, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.