My Chord Finder
chords in the key of a are I A (x 0 2 2 2 0), ii Bm (x 2 4 4 3 2), iii C#m (x 4 6 6 5 4), IV D (x x 0 2 3 2), V E (0 2 2 1 0 0), vi F#m (2 4 4 2 2 2) and vii° G#dim (4 2 0 1 0 x).
A major charts put string 6, low E, on the left and string 1, high E, on the right. Dot numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. × is muted, ○ is open, and the letters under the strings are the notes you hear.
A major has 3 barre shapes out of 7: Bm, C#m and F#m. The other 4 each include an open string.
| Degree | Chord | Quality | Notes | Frets | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | A | Major | A C# E | x 0 2 2 2 0 | no barre |
| ii | Bm | Minor | B D F# | x 2 4 4 3 2 | barre |
| iii | C#m | Minor | C# E G# | x 4 6 6 5 4 | barre |
| IV | D | Major | D F# A | x x 0 2 3 2 | no barre |
| V | E | Major | E G# B | 0 2 2 1 0 0 | no barre |
| vi | F#m | Minor | F# A C# | 2 4 4 2 2 2 | barre |
| vii° | G#dim | Diminished | G# B D | 4 2 0 1 0 x | no barre |
I · Major
Frets from low E to high E: x 0 2 2 2 0.
Sounding notes: A2 (1), E3 (5), A3 (1), C#4 (3) and E4 (5).
A is not a barre.
ii · Minor
Frets from low E to high E: x 2 4 4 3 2.
Sounding notes: B2 (1), F#3 (5), B3 (1), D4 (b3) and F#4 (5).
Bm is a barre: finger 1 at fret 2.
iii · Minor
Frets from low E to high E: x 4 6 6 5 4.
Sounding notes: C#3 (1), G#3 (5), C#4 (1), E4 (b3) and G#4 (5).
C#m is a barre: finger 1 at fret 4.
IV · Major
Frets from low E to high E: x x 0 2 3 2.
Sounding notes: D3 (1), A3 (5), D4 (1) and F#4 (3).
D is not a barre.
V · Major
Frets from low E to high E: 0 2 2 1 0 0.
Sounding notes: E2 (1), B2 (5), E3 (1), G#3 (3), B3 (5) and E4 (1).
E is not a barre.
vi · Minor
Frets from low E to high E: 2 4 4 2 2 2.
Sounding notes: F#2 (1), C#3 (5), F#3 (1), A3 (b3), C#4 (5) and F#4 (1).
F#m is a barre: finger 1 at fret 2.
vii° · Diminished
Frets from low E to high E: 4 2 0 1 0 x.
Sounding notes: G#2 (1), B2 (b3), D3 (b5), G#3 (1) and B3 (b3).
G#dim is not a barre.
A major scale notes: A, B, C#, D, E, F# and G#.
Half steps in A major: C# to D, and G# to A. Every other step is a whole step.
Open strings outside A major: G. The other open strings (low E, A, D and B) are in the scale.
The A major scale diagram marks only scale notes, so every open string named above as outside A major is left unmarked.
I-V-vi-IV in A major is A, E, F#m and D.
I-vi-IV-V in A major is A, F#m, D and E.
The I chord on piano is A3, C#4 and E4, MIDI 57, 61 and 64. The same pitch classes are A.
The open third string is G, and G is not a note of A major, so the scale diagram leaves that open string unmarked.
The A major scale spelling used above follows Open Music Theory: major scales.
They mean this set of triads. The a major guitar scale and the a major notes are the scale written above, on the same page, not a separate scale lesson.