transpose.siteChords in the key of A (A major)
Songs in A use the seven notes of the A major scale: A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯. The key signature has 3 (C♯ F♯ G♯). The seven chords built on these notes are the ones you will meet most in A.
Diatonic chords in A
| Degree | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triad | A | Bm | C♯m | D | E | F♯m | G♯dim |
| Seventh | Amaj7 | Bm7 | C♯m7 | Dmaj7 | E7 | F♯m7 | G♯m7(♭5) |
| Role | tonic (home) | subdominant side | tonic substitute | subdominant | dominant (tension) | tonic substitute, relative minor | dominant substitute |
I
ii
iii
IV
V
vi
Common progressions in A
- A – E – F♯m – D (I – V – vi – IV, the most common pop progression)
- A – F♯m – D – E (I – vi – IV – V, the '50s progression, ballads)
- F♯m – D – A – E (vi – IV – I – V, the same four chords with a minor feel)
- Bm – E – A (ii – V – I, the classic jazz and ballad cadence)
- A – D – E (I – IV – V, rock and blues basics)
Playing in A with a capo
A is an easy key you can play with open chords. Other ways:
- Capo on fret 2 + play G shapes (chords in G)
- Capo on fret 5 + play E shapes (chords in E)
- Capo on fret 7 + play D shapes (chords in D)
To move a whole PDF score to an easier key, open it in the free PDF transposer: chords and TAB change together.
Relative minor: F♯ minor
F♯ minor (F♯m) uses the same seven notes as A major. If a song starts and ends on F♯m, it is in F♯ minor.
Chords in F♯ minor: i F♯m · ii° G♯dim · III A · iv Bm · v C♯m · VI D · VII E (C♯7 is common in place of v)
- F♯m – D – A – E (i – VI – III – VII, minor-key rock and ballads)
- F♯m – Bm – C♯m – F♯m (i – iv – v – i, minor-key basics (V7 often replaces v))
- F♯m – E – D – E (i – VII – VI – VII, a rock riff progression)