Chords in the Key of A (3 sharps)
A runs on three open chords, A, D, and E, and any of them turns into a 7th without moving much. Blues in A is the session default when nobody wants to think.
The seven chords
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| I | A | major |
| ii | Bm | minor |
| iii | C♯m | minor |
| IV | D | major |
| V | E | major |
| vi | F♯m | minor |
| vii° | G♯ dim | diminished |
A, D, and E are the majors, Bm, C♯m, and F♯m the minors, and G♯ diminished gets skipped by most guitar arrangements. Plenty of songs in A never leave A, D, E, and F♯m.
Common progressions
A, D, E. The I, IV, V, and the whole three-chord songbook with it.
A, E, F♯m, D. The four-chord pop axis. Several decades of hits use exactly this.
Scales to solo with
A major pentatonic is the lead scale for the major-key sound. F♯ minor pentatonic is the same five notes from the relative minor side.
Keep exploring
Relative minor
Parallel minor
Neighbor keys, one accidental away
Key of A FAQ
What chords are in the key of A?
A, Bm, C♯m, D, E, F♯m, and G♯ diminished. The I, IV, and V are A, D, and E, and the relative minor is F♯m.
What is the relative minor of A major?
F♯ minor. Same key signature, same seven chords, with F♯m treated as home.
How many sharps or flats does the key of A have?
3 sharps, F♯, C♯, and G♯.