A major chord
A
- AR
- C♯3
- E5
Open
What each note does
- A is the root. It names the chord and is the note your ear hears as home.
- C♯ is the major third. It makes the chord sound bright. Lower it a half step to C and the chord turns minor.
- E is the fifth. It adds weight without changing the character, so it is the first note to drop when a voicing gets crowded.
More voicings
Barre · E shape · 5th fret
Triad · top 3 strings · 5th fret
Triad · middle strings · 2nd fret
Progressions that use A
- Open in builder →
I–IV–V–I · D major · Country / folk
DGAD
- Open in builder →
I–♭VII–IV · E major · Classic rock
EDA
- Open in builder →
I–V–vi–IV · D major · Pop
DABmG