A Guitar Chord

Looking for A# (A♯)? →

A is a major chord made of A · C♯ · E. A major triad — bright and stable, the most basic chord. The standard shape is an open chord: x02220 (6th string → 1st string, x = don't play, 0 = open string).

Chord charts

Open chord · x02220

Fret 2 barre · root on 6th string · 542225

Fret 5 barre · root on 6th string · 577655 · from fret 5

Fret 12 barre · root on 5th string · x-12-14-14-14-12 · from fret 12

Barre fret 2 with your index finger, from string 4 to string 2.
Let strings 5, 1 ring open.
Don't play string 6 (or mute lightly).
Strum down from string 5.

A guitar chord chart — open chord x02220 and 3 more shapes — All A shapes on one image — long-press (or right-click) to save it.

Notes in the chord

A
rootC♯
3rdE
5th

Play it easier with a capo

Capo on fret 2 + G shape → sounds as A
Capo on fret 4 + F shape → sounds as A
Capo on fret 5 + E shape → sounds as A
Capo on fret 7 + D shape → sounds as A

If barre chords are hard, clamp a capo and play an open shape — it sounds exactly the same. The Buskermate app can move a whole chord sheet to any capo position for you.

Try it: capo on

Keys that use this chord

the V chord in D major · the IV chord in E major · the I chord in A major

Scales that fit

Other A chords

A Am A7 Amaj7 Am7 A6 Am6 Asus4 Asus2 A7sus4 Adim Adim7 Am7b5 Aaug Aadd9 A9 Am9 Amaj9

Major chords in other keys

C C♯D E♭E F F♯G A♭A B♭B

FAQ

What notes are in the A chord?

The A chord is made of A, C♯, E. A major triad — bright and stable, the most basic chord.

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

The standard shape, from the 6th string to the 1st, is x02220 (an open chord). If the barre is hard, put a capo on fret 2 and play a G shape — it sounds the same.

Which scale works for soloing over A?

A major or A major pentatonic fits well.

🎸 Transpose a whole chord sheet — Buskermate
Upload a PDF song sheet and Buskermate reads the chords and moves them to any key or capo position (the app is in Korean for now).