As a guitar player, understanding major keys and their related chords is fundamental. The key of A major is a bright and commonly used key in many genres of music. Knowing the Guitar Chords In A Major will significantly expand your musical vocabulary and allow you to play a vast range of songs and create your own music.
In this guide, we’ll explore all seven chords in the key of A major, providing you with chord charts and popular chord progressions. We’ll also delve into the music theory behind why these specific chords belong to the key of A major, giving you a deeper understanding of music composition.
The Chords in A Major
Just like any major scale, the A major scale naturally contains seven notes. Consequently, there are seven chords in the key of A major, each built upon a degree of the scale. These chords follow a predictable pattern of major, minor, and diminished qualities.
Here’s a table outlining the chords in the key of A major, their respective degrees, and chord diagrams for guitar:
| Degree | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chord | A major | B minor | C# minor | D major | E major | F# minor | G# dim |
| Chart |
Key Takeaway: In any major key, the sequence of chord qualities is consistent:
- I = Major
- ii = Minor
- iii = Minor
- IV = Major
- V = Major
- vi = Minor
- vii° = Diminished
This pattern holds true for all major keys, making it a valuable shortcut for learning chords in different keys.
Popular Chord Progressions in the Key of A Major
Understanding the chords in A major is only the first step. To make music, you need to combine these chords into progressions. Certain chord progressions are commonly used and sound pleasing to the ear. Here are some popular chord progressions specifically in the key of A major:
| Progression | Chords |
|---|---|
| I-IV-V | A-D-E |
| I-IV-I-V | A-D-A-E |
| I-V-vi-IV | A-E-F#m-D |
| I-ii-IV-V | A-Bm-D-E |
| I-vi-ii-V | A-F#m-Bm-E |
| I-vi-IV-V | A-F#m-D-E |
These progressions are foundational in many popular songs across genres. Experimenting with these progressions is a great way to start songwriting or simply get a feel for the typical sound of the A major key. You’ll notice how these chord combinations create a harmonious and resolved feeling, characteristic of major keys.
Understanding the Theory: Why These Chords?
To truly master the guitar chords in A major, it’s essential to understand the underlying music theory. The chords in any major key are derived directly from the notes of its corresponding major scale. In this case, the chords in A major are built from the A major scale.
If you’re not yet familiar with the major scale formula, it’s recommended to learn about it before proceeding. The major scale forms the basis for understanding harmony in Western music.
The A major scale consists of these seven notes:
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (Octave)
Notes: A B C# D E F# G# A
Each of these notes becomes the root of a chord within the key. To determine whether each chord is major, minor, or diminished, we construct triads. Triads are three-note chords built using specific intervals from the root note. We use three types of triads to build chords in a major key:
- Major Triad: Built with the 1st, 3rd, and 5th degrees of the major scale. This results in major chords.
- Minor Triad: Built with the 1st, flattened 3rd (b3), and 5th degrees of the major scale. This results in minor chords.
- Diminished Triad: Built with the 1st, flattened 3rd (b3), and flattened 5th (b5) degrees of the major scale. This results in diminished chords.
Let’s break down how each chord in the key of A major is formed:
-
A Major (I Chord)
- Root Note: A
- Major Triad Formula: 1 – 3 – 5
- Degrees from A Major Scale: 1st (A), 3rd (C#), 5th (E)
- Notes: A, C#, E – This forms the A major chord.
-
B Minor (ii Chord)
- Root Note: B
- Minor Triad Formula: 1 – b3 – 5
- Degrees from B Major Scale: 1st (B), 3rd (D#), 5th (F#)
- Flattened 3rd to fit A Major Scale: D# becomes D (natural)
- Notes: B, D, F# – This forms the B minor chord.
-
C# Minor (iii Chord)
- Root Note: C#
- Minor Triad Formula: 1 – b3 – 5
- Degrees from C# Major Scale: 1st (C#), 3rd (E#), 5th (G#)
- Flattened 3rd to fit A Major Scale: E# becomes E (natural)
- Notes: C#, E, G# – This forms the C# minor chord.
-
D Major (IV Chord)
- Root Note: D
- Major Triad Formula: 1 – 3 – 5
- Degrees from D Major Scale: 1st (D), 3rd (F#), 5th (A)
- Notes: D, F#, A – This forms the D major chord.
-
E Major (V Chord)
- Root Note: E
- Major Triad Formula: 1 – 3 – 5
- Degrees from E Major Scale: 1st (E), 3rd (G#), 5th (B)
- Notes: E, G#, B – This forms the E major chord.
-
F# Minor (vi Chord)
- Root Note: F#
- Minor Triad Formula: 1 – b3 – 5
- Degrees from F# Major Scale: 1st (F#), 3rd (A#), 5th (C#)
- Flattened 3rd to fit A Major Scale: A# becomes A (natural)
- Notes: F#, A, C# – This forms the F# minor chord.
-
G# Diminished (vii° Chord)
- Root Note: G#
- Diminished Triad Formula: 1 – b3 – b5
- Degrees from G# Major Scale: 1st (G#), 3rd (B#), 5th (D#)
- Flattened 3rd to fit A Major Scale: B# becomes B (natural)
- Flattened 5th to fit A Major Scale: D# becomes D (natural)
- Notes: G#, B, D – This forms the G# diminished chord.
By understanding how these chords are constructed from the A major scale and the triad formulas, you gain a deeper understanding of music theory and how keys function. This knowledge is invaluable for songwriting, improvisation, and overall musical comprehension.
Exploring the guitar chords in A major is a crucial step in your musical journey. By learning these chords, practicing common progressions, and understanding the theory behind them, you’ll be well-equipped to play a wide variety of music and further develop your guitar skills. Don’t hesitate to explore guitar chords in other major keys to broaden your musical horizons even further!
