How to play A (A Major) on Guitar
Diagram, notes, and audio for the A chord on guitar. Free in your browser.
About A on guitar
A major is the second chord every guitarist learns. Three fingers cluster on the 2nd fret of the D, G, and B strings, the open A string serves as the bass note, and the high E rings open. The chord notes A, C#, and E sit close together, which is part of why beginners find A so tight under the fingers — and why some teachers introduce a one-finger barre version using the index across all three notes.
A is the I chord in the key of A and the V chord in the key of D. Together with D and E it forms the tonic, subdominant, and dominant of the most popular three-chord shape in folk, country, and early rock. The open A is also the foundation of the second great moveable barre shape on the guitar — slide the A shape up two frets and barre at the 2nd fret to make B, the missing chord between A and the open E shape's range.
Iconic A-rooted songs include Tom Petty's Free Fallin', the Stones' Brown Sugar, and the entire repertoire of Australian country. Open A also appears frequently as the V chord in D-key progressions, where it pulls strongly back to the tonic. Because the chord uses three adjacent fingers on the same fret, learning to roll one fingertip across to mute the high E (turning it into A5) is a useful intermediate trick.
Frequently asked questions
- Why are my fingers cramped on A major?
- Three fingers must share the 2nd fret on adjacent strings. Using your index, middle, and ring fingers in order — or barring with one finger — both work. Choose the shape that lets you switch chords fastest.
- What's an easy alternative if A major is too tight?
- Try the two-finger 'easy A': index on the 2nd fret D string, ring finger barring the 2nd fret of the G and B strings. The high E remains open and the chord still rings cleanly.
- How do I move from A to D quickly?
- Keep your fingers in the same A shape, slide them onto the higher strings, and add the F# on the high E — that's an A-to-D switch that teaches finger economy.
Switch instruments
See A on a different instrument — same chord, new diagram.