Home › Guitar chord chart › A chords Standard tuning · open & barre shapes
A Guitar Chords
Every common A chord on guitar — major, minor, sevenths, sus, add9, diminished and more — with up to three ways to play each one, from open position to barre chords up the neck. Tap ▶ Strum to hear a shape, or Pick to hear it one string at a time.
A A major Notes: A – C# – E · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 · Bright and stable — the most common chord there is.
Loop it A chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-2-2-0) × A E A C# E Open position x 0 2 2 2 0 ▶ Strum Pick A chord — EADGBE tuning (5-7-7-6-5-5) 5fr A E A C# E A Barre, root on string 6, fret 5 5 7 7 6 5 5 ▶ Strum Pick A chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-9-10-9) 7fr × × A E A C# Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 9 10 9 ▶ Strum Pick
Am A minor Notes: A – C – E · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 · Darker and sadder than major.
Loop it Am chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-2-1-0) × A E A C E Open position x 0 2 2 1 0 ▶ Strum Pick Am chord — EADGBE tuning (5-7-7-5-5-5) 5fr A E A C E A Barre, root on string 6, fret 5 5 7 7 5 5 5 ▶ Strum Pick Am chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-9-10-8) 7fr × × A E A C Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 9 10 8 ▶ Strum Pick
A7 A dominant 7th Notes: A – C# – E – G · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 · Bluesy and restless; wants to move to the chord a fifth below.
Loop it A7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-0-2-0) × A E G C# E Open position x 0 2 0 2 0 ▶ Strum Pick A7 chord — EADGBE tuning (5-7-5-6-5-5) 5fr A E G C# E A Barre, root on string 6, fret 5 5 7 5 6 5 5 ▶ Strum Pick A7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-9-8-9) 7fr × × A E G C# Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 9 8 9 ▶ Strum Pick
Amaj7 A major 7th Notes: A – C# – E – G# · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 · Soft, dreamy and jazzy.
Loop it Amaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-1-2-0) × A E G# C# E Open position x 0 2 1 2 0 ▶ Strum Pick Amaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (5-X-6-6-5-X) 5fr × × A G# C# E Barre, root on string 6, fret 5 5 x 6 6 5 x ▶ Strum Pick Amaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-9-9-9) 7fr × × A E G# C# Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 9 9 9 ▶ Strum Pick
Am7 A minor 7th Notes: A – C – E – G · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7 · Mellow minor — soul, R&B and jazz.
Loop it Am7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-0-1-0) × A E G C E Open position x 0 2 0 1 0 ▶ Strum Pick Am7 chord — EADGBE tuning (5-7-5-5-5-5) 5fr A E G C E A Barre, root on string 6, fret 5 5 7 5 5 5 5 ▶ Strum Pick Am7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-9-8-8) 7fr × × A E G C Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 9 8 8 ▶ Strum Pick
Asus2 A suspended 2nd Notes: A – B – E · Formula: 1 – 2 – 5 · Open and airy: neither major nor minor.
Loop it Asus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-2-0-0) × A E A B E Open position x 0 2 2 0 0 ▶ Strum Pick Asus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-9-10-7) 7fr × × A E A B Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 9 10 7 ▶ Strum Pick Asus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-12-14-14-12-12) 12fr × A E A B E Barre, root on string 5, fret 12 x 12 14 14 12 12 ▶ Strum Pick
Asus4 A suspended 4th Notes: A – D – E · Formula: 1 – 4 – 5 · Tense in a gentle way; usually resolves to major.
Loop it Asus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-2-3-0) × A E A D E Open position x 0 2 2 3 0 ▶ Strum Pick Asus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (5-7-7-7-5-5) 5fr A E A D E A Barre, root on string 6, fret 5 5 7 7 7 5 5 ▶ Strum Pick Asus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-9-10-10) 7fr × × A E A D Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 9 10 10 ▶ Strum Pick
Aadd9 A add 9 Notes: A – B – C# – E · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 · A major chord with sparkle on top.
Loop it Aadd9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-4-2-0) × A E B C# E Open position x 0 2 4 2 0 ▶ Strum Pick Aadd9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-12-11-9-12-9) 9fr × A C# E B C# C-shape, root on string 5, fret 12 x 12 11 9 12 9 ▶ Strum Pick
A6 A major 6th Notes: A – C# – E – F# · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 · Sweet, vintage sound — swing and country.
Loop it A6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-2-2-2) × A E A C# F# Open position x 0 2 2 2 2 ▶ Strum Pick A6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-9-7-9) 7fr × × A E F# C# Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 9 7 9 ▶ Strum Pick A6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-12-14-14-14-14) 12fr × A E A C# F# Barre, root on string 5, fret 12 x 12 14 14 14 14 ▶ Strum Pick
Am6 A minor 6th Notes: A – C – E – F# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – 6 · Minor with a mysterious, film-noir twist.
Loop it Am6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-2-1-2) × A E A C F# Open position x 0 2 2 1 2 ▶ Strum Pick Am6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-9-7-8) 7fr × × A E F# C Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 9 7 8 ▶ Strum Pick Am6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-12-14-14-13-14) 12fr × A E A C F# Barre, root on string 5, fret 12 x 12 14 14 13 14 ▶ Strum Pick
A9 A dominant 9th Notes: A – B – C# – E – G · Formula: 1 – 3 – (5) – ♭7 – 9 · Funky and soulful.
Loop it A9 chord — EADGBE tuning (5-7-5-6-5-7) 5fr A E G C# E B Barre, root on string 6, fret 5 5 7 5 6 5 7 ▶ Strum Pick A9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-12-11-12-12-12) 11fr × A C# G B E Barre, root on string 5, fret 12 x 12 11 12 12 12 ▶ Strum Pick
Adim A diminished Notes: A – C – D# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 · Tense and unstable — a passing chord.
Loop it Adim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-1-2-1-X) × × A D# A C Open position x 0 1 2 1 x ▶ Strum Pick Adim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-8-10-8) 7fr × × A D# A C Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 8 10 8 ▶ Strum Pick Adim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-12-13-14-13-X) 12fr × × A D# A C Barre, root on string 5, fret 12 x 12 13 14 13 x ▶ Strum Pick
Adim7 A diminished 7th Notes: A – C – D# – F# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7 · Dramatic and symmetrical: repeats every 3 frets.
Loop it Adim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-1-2-1-2) × A D# A C F# Open position x 0 1 2 1 2 ▶ Strum Pick Adim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-8-7-8) 7fr × × A D# F# C Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 8 7 8 ▶ Strum Pick Adim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-12-13-14-13-14) 12fr × A D# A C F# Barre, root on string 5, fret 12 x 12 13 14 13 14 ▶ Strum Pick
Am7b5 A half-diminished (m7♭5) Notes: A – C – D# – G · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7 · The ii chord of minor keys.
Loop it Am7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-1-0-1-X) × × A D# G C Open position x 0 1 0 1 x ▶ Strum Pick Am7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-8-8-8) 7fr × × A D# G C Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 8 8 8 ▶ Strum Pick Am7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-12-13-12-13-X) 12fr × × A D# G C Barre, root on string 5, fret 12 x 12 13 12 13 x ▶ Strum Pick
Aaug A augmented Notes: A – C# – F · Formula: 1 – 3 – ♯5 · Dreamy and unresolved; repeats every 4 frets.
Loop it Aaug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-3-2-2-1) × A F A C# F Open position x 0 3 2 2 1 ▶ Strum Pick Aaug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-7-10-10-9) 7fr × × A F A C# Root on string 4, fret 7 x x 7 10 10 9 ▶ Strum Pick Aaug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-12-15-14-14-13) 12fr × A F A C# F Barre, root on string 5, fret 12 x 12 15 14 14 13 ▶ Strum Pick
A5 A power chord (5) Notes: A – E · Formula: 1 – 5 · No 3rd, so it suits distortion — rock and metal.
Loop it A5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-0-2-2-X-X) × × × A E A Open position x 0 2 2 x x ▶ Strum Pick A5 chord — EADGBE tuning (5-7-7-X-X-X) 5fr × × × A E A Barre, root on string 6, fret 5 5 7 7 x x x ▶ Strum Pick A5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-12-14-14-X-X) 12fr × × × A E A Barre, root on string 5, fret 12 x 12 14 14 x x ▶ Strum Pick
Where A chords show up
A major is the I, IV or V chord in the keys of D, A, E. Am is the ii, iii or vi chord in C, G, F. Try a progression that uses it in the progressions library , or find the key of your own song with the key finder .
How to read these chord diagrams
Strings run left to right from the thick low E (string 6) to the thin high E (string 1). A dot means press that fret; O above the nut means play the string open, × means don't play it. A bar across several strings is a barre — press them all with one finger. Red dots are the root note (A). The letters under each diagram are the notes that sound.
Not in standard tuning? The chord finder works out shapes for any tuning, and the tunings library has chord charts for 20 alternate tunings.
Questions How do you play a A chord on guitar? The most common A major shape is shown first on this page in open position; the diagram shows which frets to press and which strings to skip.
What notes are in a A chord? A major contains A – C# – E. A minor lowers the middle note by one fret.