A Chords on Guitar
Every common A chord: major, minor, sevenths, sus chords and diminished. Open shapes first, then the barre shapes up the neck. 14 diagrams. 🎸
A majorA
Bright and settled. Most songs start and end here.
- Notes
- A C# E
- Formula
- 1 3 5
A minorAm
Lower the 3rd by one fret, and the mood turns.
- Notes
- A C E
- Formula
- 1 b3 5
A seventhA7
Bluesy and a little restless. It wants to move on.
- Notes
- A C# E G
- Formula
- 1 3 5 b7
A major seventhAmaj7
Soft and dreamy. Late-night soul in one chord.
- Notes
- A C# E G#
- Formula
- 1 3 5 7
A minor seventhAm7
Mellow and smooth. A minor chord with its shoulders down.
- Notes
- A C E G
- Formula
- 1 b3 5 b7
A suspended secondAsus2
Open and airy. Neither happy nor sad.
- Notes
- A B E
- Formula
- 1 2 5
A suspended fourthAsus4
Tense, until it falls back to the major chord.
- Notes
- A D E
- Formula
- 1 4 5
A diminishedAdim
Dark and dramatic. Best as a quick step between two chords.
- Notes
- A C Eb
- Formula
- 1 b3 b5
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A chord?
A major is A, C#, E. A minor is A, C, E: the same chord with the middle note one fret lower.
What is the easiest way to play A on guitar?
The open A chord at the top of this page. It uses open strings, so it needs the least strength in your fretting hand.