Piano chords · Major chord
A piano chord (A major)
A is a major chord with 3 notes. It sounds bright and settled. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
A – C♯ – E · tap any key to hear it
The notes of A
A is built from 3 notes (1 – 3 – 5):
- A, the root
- C♯, the major third
- E, the fifth
C♯ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on A, 3 on C♯, 5 on E.
- Left hand: 5 on A, 3 on C♯, 1 on E.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | A – C♯ – E |
| 1st inversion | C♯ – E – A |
| 2nd inversion | E – A – C♯ |
Where A belongs
A is the I chord in A major, the IV chord in E major and the V chord in D major. Its relative minor is F♯m, which shares two of its notes.
Am is the same chord with the middle note a half step lower (C♯ becomes C), which turns it from bright to dark.
Hear it in a progression
A – E – F♯m – D: I – V – vi – IV, the progression behind countless pop songs.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the A chord?
A (A major) is made of A, C♯ and E: the root, major third and fifth.
How do you play A on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on A, 3 on C♯, 5 on E, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on A, 3 on C♯, 1 on E.
What's the difference between A and Am?
Am is the same chord with the middle note a half step lower (C♯ becomes C), which turns it from bright to dark.