Chords in the Key of A Major

The key of A major has 7 chords: A, Bm, C♯m, D, E, F♯m and G♯°. Play them, see them with 7ths and numbers, and try common progressions.

A major: 3 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯)

Scale: A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ · Relative minor: F♯ minor

The 7 chords in the key of A major. Press a chord to hear it.
Roman	Nashville	Function
I	1	tonic
ii	2m	predominant
iii	3m	tonic or dominant
IV	4	predominant
V	5	dominant
vi	6m	tonic
vii°	7°	dominant

Common progressions in A major

I–IV–V–IA D E A
I–V–vi–IVA E F♯m D
vi–IV–I–VF♯m D A E
I–vi–IV–VA F♯m D E
ii–V–IBm7 E7 Amaj7
I–IV–vi–VA D F♯m E
I–iii–IV–ivA C♯m D Dm
I–♭VII–IV–IA G D A
12-bar bluesA7 A7 A7 A7 D7 D7 A7 A7 E7 D7 A7 E7
I–vi–ii–VA F♯m Bm E
I–IV–I–VA D A E
IV–V–iii–viD E C♯m F♯m

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Guitar chords in A major

A I · x02220
Bm ii · x24432
C♯m iii · x4212x
D IV · xx0232
E V · 022100
F♯m vi · 244222
G♯° vii° · 42x43x

Key signature and scale

A major has 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯). The A major scale is A – B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G♯.

Its relative minor is F♯ minor: same signature, same chords, a different home chord. Next to it on the circle of fifths are E major (one more sharp or one less flat) and D major (one more flat or one less sharp); songs often move to these keys.

Progressions in A major

Progression	In A major
I–IV–V–I	A D E A
I–V–vi–IV	A E F♯m D
vi–IV–I–V	F♯m D A E
I–vi–IV–V	A F♯m D E

Press Play in the tool above to hear them, or Transpose to move a progression to another key. Need these chords in another key? Use the transposition chart.

Chords in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of A major?

The seven chords are A, Bm, C♯m, D, E, F♯m and G♯° (I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°).

How many sharps or flats does A major have?

A major has 3 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯. Its scale is A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯.

What is the relative minor of A major?

F♯ minor. The two keys share the same key signature and the same seven chords; they differ in which chord feels like home.

Which chords in A major are hard on guitar, and can a capo help?

Played without a capo the main chords are A, D, E, F♯m. With a capo on fret 2 you can play G shapes instead: G, C, D, Em, and it still sounds in A major.

What is the V chord in A major?

E (or E7 as a 7th chord). It pulls strongly back to A.

Last updated: October 12, 2026