Major · A

Chord A Major (A)

A uses 3 keys, from A4 up to E5, 7 semitones apart.

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ChordA

NotesA · C# · E

Right-hand fingering1 - 3 - 5

What sets A apart on the piano

A takes three keys, A, C# and E. A is the root, C# the major third and E the fifth. Said aloud, its notes are A, C sharp and E. In A, C# sits on a black key and A and E on white keys.

Counting semitones in A, A to C# is four and C# to E is three. With A4 at 440 Hz, this position sounds A4 at 440 Hz, C#5 at 554.37 Hz and E5 at 659.25 Hz.

With the right hand, you build A by playing A with the thumb, C# with the middle finger and E with the little finger. From A4 to E5 the hand spans seven semitones.

In the first inversion, A moves up an octave and the lowest note becomes C#, the major third. The fingers are 1 - 2 - 5. The second inversion starts on E, the fifth, and ends on C#. The fingers are 1 - 3 - 5.

From A to Am only one key changes. C# moves down a semitone to C. A and F#m have two notes in common, A and C#.

You will find A in seven keys. In A major it is the I, in D major the V and in E major the IV.

88-Key Keyboard

Listen to and visualize A

A Major (A)

Major

RH: A - C# - E|LH bass: A

Voicing mode:

LH: octave 3 (bass)RH: octaves 4 and 5 (triad)

C3 - C6

1 = thumb · 5 = little finger

Both hands (bass + triad)

Root position

How to play A Major (A)

1
A · finger 1Play A4 with finger 1 of your right hand.
2
C# · finger 3Play C#5 with finger 3 of your right hand.
3
E · finger 5Play E5 with finger 5 of your right hand.

Voicings

Inversions of A

Across its 3 positions, the lowest note is A, C#, and E.

Position	Notes	Fingering	Lowest note
Root position	A · C# · E	1 - 3 - 5	A in the bass, the root
1st inversion	C# · E · A	1 - 2 - 5	C# in the bass, the third
2nd inversion	E · A · C#	1 - 3 - 5	E in the bass, the fifth