100% in your browser

A Guitar Chord

Learn the A shape, hear the voicing, and understand its notes and intervals.

MAJOR CHORD

How to play A on guitar

Read the diagram from the low E string on the left to the high E string on the right. Pick each intended string separately before strumming the complete shape.

Notes
A · C# · E
Intervals
1 - 3 - 5
Level
Beginner
STRING BY STRING

A chord fingering

This voicing uses the fret pattern x 0 2 2 2 0. Keep fretting fingers close behind the fret wire and avoid touching adjacent open strings.

Low EMute
AOpen
DFret 2
GFret 2
BFret 2
High EOpen
BUILD THE CHORD

Notes and intervals in A

The A chord combines A, C#, E. Its formula, 1 - 3 - 5, describes each note relative to the A root.

A1
C#3
E5
KEEP PRACTICING

Related guitar chords

Browse guitar chordsOpen Chord Finder

A Guitar Chord Questions

What notes are in the A guitar chord?

The A chord contains A, C#, E. Its interval formula is 1 - 3 - 5.

This A shape is categorized as beginner-friendly, although clean notes and smooth changes still require practice.

The same A chord can be played with different voicings, inversions, octaves, and string combinations while preserving its essential chord tones.