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Setup

Instrument

E A D G B E
Capo

Diagrams

Chords shown as
Chord numbers
Shape difficulty
Fret numbers counted
Playing hand

Playback

Chords sound as

Accessibility

Larger type and controls, stronger contrast, reduced motion, and thumb-reachable show controls on this device.

Account & sync

Account & sync →
Standard tuning

A on guitar

A is a major, spelled A, C# and E. In Standard tuning (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4) the easiest shape is x02220, which sits at fret 2, needs a barre across 3 strings at fret 2, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 string. 12 positions for it are shown below, from the nut up to fret 14.

Notes and intervals

NoteAC#E
Interval1P3M5P

12 ways to play it

Ordered by how hard they are to fret, easiest first, one per position on the neck. Fret numbers are relative to the position marked beside each grid.

A major, open position, capo 0
x02220sits at fret 2, needs a barre across 3 strings at fret 2, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 string
A major, position 5, capo 05fr321
x07650sits at fret 5, spans 2 frets, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 string
A major, position 9, capo 09fr312
x0119100sits at fret 9, spans 2 frets, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 string
A major, position 6, capo 06fr21
x076xxsits at fret 6, spans 1 fret, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 3 strings
A major, position 14, capo 014fr
x01414140sits at fret 14, needs a barre across 3 strings at fret 14, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 string
A major, position 7, capo 07fr1243
x079109sits at fret 7, spans 3 frets, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 1 string
A major, position 4, capo 04fr1432
047650sits at fret 4, spans 3 frets and lets 2 strings ring open
A major, position 12, capo 012fr2341
x014141412sits at fret 12, spans 2 frets, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 1 string
A major, position 11, capo 011fr1
0011xxxsits at fret 11, needs no stretch at all, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 3 strings
A major, position 10, capo 010fr231
x01114100sits at fret 10, spans 4 frets, lets 2 strings ring open and mutes 1 string
A major, open position, capo 0
x0222xsits at fret 2, needs a barre across 3 strings at fret 2, lets 1 string ring open and mutes 2 strings
A major, open position, capo 0
002220sits at fret 2, needs a barre across 3 strings at fret 2 and lets 3 strings ring open

The five shapes

Every shape below is one of the five open chords moved up the neck, with a finger — or the nut — standing in for the open strings. A turns up as an A shape, a G shape and an E shape: A at the nut, G at fret 2, E at fret 5.

A major, open position, capo 0
A shapeA as an A shape: the open shape itself, fingered x02220 against the nut.
A major, open position, capo 0324
G shapeA as a G shape: barre at fret 2, fingered 542225.
A major, position 5, capo 05fr342
E shapeA as an E shape: barre at fret 5, fingered 577655.

Keys A belongs to

A is diatonic to 24 of the 96 keys this app knows, playing a different role in each.

A in another tuning

Open A in the explorer →