Piano · major
A Chord on Piano
A Major is A, C#, E — the 1-3-5 pattern of a major chord. There are 5 ways to play it on piano, ranked below from easiest to hardest.
Every voicing below is the same 3 notes in a different order. Root position is the one to learn first; the inversions exist to keep your hand still when you change chords.
Start here — Root Position (RH)
Root position — the root is the lowest note. This is the sound in your head when you read the chord symbol, and the one to learn first.
Ways to voice it — 5 voicings, easiest first
Same 3 notes in all of them. What changes is which one sits at the bottom — and how far your hand has to travel to get there.
Way 1 of 5
Root Position (RH)
Easiest here· beginner· the standard shape
Root position — the root is the lowest note. This is the sound in your head when you read the chord symbol, and the one to learn first.
Keys: A4 · C#5 · E5
Way 2 of 5
1st Inversion (RH)
beginner
First inversion — the 3rd (C#) moves to the bottom. Reach for it when the chord before this one sat a step below: your hand barely travels.
Keys: C#4 · E4 · A4
Way 3 of 5
2nd Inversion (RH)
beginner
Second inversion — the 5th (E) is in the bass. It leans forward instead of settling, which makes it a good passing chord.
Keys: E4 · A4 · C#5
Way 4 of 5
Spread Voicing (Both)
intermediate
Root position — the root is the lowest note. This is the sound in your head when you read the chord symbol, and the one to learn first.
Keys: A2 · E3 · C#4 · E4 · A4
Way 5 of 5
Jazz Voicing (LH)
intermediate
Root position — the root is the lowest note. This is the sound in your head when you read the chord symbol, and the one to learn first.
Keys: A2 · C#3 · E3
What beginners get wrong
Moving in and out of it
Songs that turn on this chord
- Hey JoeJimi Hendrixverse — A position
- Werewolves of LondonWarren Zevonchorus
- Wagon WheelOld Crow Medicine Showverse
- King of KingsHillsong Worshipverse — the dominant
- Tennessee WhiskeyChris Stapletonverse — tonic
A on other instruments
Same notes, different hands. Every link below is a real page with diagrams and audio.
Chords next door
Same root, different colour — and all of them playable on piano.
A on Piano — questions people ask
What is the easiest way to play A on piano?
“Root Position (RH)” — which we rate beginner — is the easiest A shape on piano. Root position — the root is the lowest note. This is the sound in your head when you read the chord symbol, and the one to learn first.
What notes are in the A Major chord?
A Major is A, C#, E — the 1-3-5 interval pattern of a major chord. Every voicing on this page uses those notes and nothing else; they just appear in a different order and octave.
How many ways can you play A on piano?
This page has 5 A voicings for piano, ranked from easiest to hardest: Root Position (RH), 1st Inversion (RH), 2nd Inversion (RH), Spread Voicing (Both), Jazz Voicing (LH). They all sound like A; the differences are how hard they are to hold and how high they sit.
What can I play instead of A?
The nearest stand-ins on piano that keep the same root are A5, Asus4, Asus2. They keep the root and the fifth and only change what sits in the middle, so most songs still work — but check the swap against the melody, because the note you removed may be the one the tune is singing.
Can I play A on other instruments?
Yes. A is the same set of notes everywhere; only the fingering changes. This site has diagrams and audio for it on guitar, ukulele, bass, mandolin, banjo.
Learn the theory behind A
The shape gets your fingers there. These explain why it sounds the way it does.
Chord Progressions Explained
Major triads are the building blocks. This is how they get strung into songs.
7 min read
Major and Minor Scales — Built from Intervals, Felt in Songs
Where the three notes come from, and why the stack sounds bright.
5 min read
Key Signatures: Read Any Key in Two Seconds
Every key this chord sits in, and the signature that gives it away.
6 min read