The A major scale
The A major scale is A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ and G♯. Like every major scale it climbs in the same steps: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.
Chords in A major
Build a chord on each note of the scale, using only notes from the key, and you get the seven chords of A major:
The three major chords, A, D and E, carry most songs in A major. The three minor ones, Bm, C♯m and F♯m, add the darker colors. G♯° is diminished and rarely used on its own.
With a 7th added, the chords become:
9th, 11th and 13th chords in A major
Stack more notes from the key on top of the 7ths and you get the lush chords of neo-soul, R&B and lo-fi. These are the ones that sound good in A major; the rest clash.
Chords from outside A major
Songs often borrow a chord from outside the key for color. Dm, F and G come from A minor. B7, C♯7 and F♯7 are secondary dominants: 7th chords that pull hard toward one of the key's own chords.
Tap one to hear it pull back into A major.
Chord progressions in A major
Eight progressions that sound like A major, from pop to lo-fi. Play one, or tap any chord on this page to build your own and download it as MIDI.
The pop progression: thousands of hits use it
The same four chords, starting on the sad one
The royal road: the lift behind J-pop and anime
The 50s progression, still in ballads today
The jazz cadence, with the 9ths and 13ths of neo-soul
The minor iv, borrowed: a bittersweet way home
♭VII, borrowed from the minor key: the classic rock move
The oldest move in pop, rock and blues
A major key signature
A major has 3 sharps: F♯, C♯ and G♯. They're written in that order at the start of every line of music, so every F, C and G is played sharp unless the music says otherwise.
Keys related to A major
- Relative minor: F♯ minor. It uses exactly the same notes, starting from F♯. Songs move between the two easily, and key finders often mix them up.
- Parallel minor: A minor. The same home note with the other mood (no sharps or flats). Borrowing a chord from it is a classic way to add color.
- Next door on the circle of fifths: E major (4 sharps) and D major (2 sharps). Each shares all but one note with A major, so a song can move there smoothly.
A major in Camelot: 11B
DJs use the Camelot wheel to mix in key. A major is 11B. It mixes smoothly with 10B and 12B (one step around the wheel) and with 11A (F♯ minor, the same notes). See the Camelot wheel.
What key is your song in?
Drop a song into our free key finder to see its key and Camelot code, or record anything your Mac plays with DOT and get its key, tempo and chords, saved as MIDI for your DAW.
Song not on your computer? DOT reads it while it plays.
Questions
What notes are in A major?
A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ and G♯.
What are the most popular chord progressions in A major?
I–V–vi–IV (A E F♯m D); vi–IV–I–V (F♯m D A E); IVmaj7–V7–iii7–vi7 (Dmaj7 E7 C♯m7 F♯m7).
What chords are in A major?
A, Bm, C♯m, D, E, F♯m and G♯°.
How many sharps are in A major?
3 sharps: F♯, C♯ and G♯.
What is the relative minor of A major?
F♯ minor. It has the same notes and the same key signature.
What is A major in Camelot?
11B.
Piano: Salamander Grand Piano, CC BY 3.0
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