Key · major
The key of A Major
A Major has 3 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯). Its scale is A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯. The seven chords built on those degrees are I A, ii Bm, iii C♯m, IV D, V E, vi F♯m and vii° G♯dim; the dominant is E and the subdominant D. Its relative minor is F♯ Minor and its parallel minor is A Minor.
The scale on the keyboard
Fingering for both hands, the step pattern and the other forms are on the A Major scale page.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from the tonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Tonic | Unison |
| 2 | B | Supertonic | Major 2nd |
| 3 | C♯ | Mediant | Major 3rd |
| 4 | D | Subdominant | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | E | Dominant | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F♯ | Submediant | Major 6th |
| 7 | G♯ | Leading Tone | Major 7th |
Chords in A Major
One chord on each degree of the scale. The dominant is E and the subdominant D.
| Numeral | Triad | Quality | Seventh |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | A | Major | Amaj7 |
| ii | Bm | Minor | Bm7 |
| iii | C♯m | Minor | C♯m7 |
| IV | D | Major | Dmaj7 |
| V | E | Major | E7 |
| vi | F♯m | Minor | F♯m7 |
| vii° | G♯dim | Diminished | G♯m7♭5 |
Chord functions
| Function | Chords |
|---|---|
| Tonic | I · iii · vi |
| Subdominant | ii · IV |
| Dominant | V · vii° |
Common progressions in A Major
| Progression | Chords | Level |
|---|---|---|
| I – IV – V | A – D – E | Easy |
| I – IV – V – I | A – D – E – A | Easy |
| I – V – vi – IV | A – E – F♯m – D | Easy |
| I – vi – IV – V | A – F♯m – D – E | Easy |
| I – IV – I – V | A – D – A – E | Easy |
| I – V – IV – I | A – E – D – A | Easy |
| I – IV – V – IV | A – D – E – D | Easy |
| I – ii – IV – V | A – Bm – D – E | Easy |
| vi – IV – I – V | F♯m – D – A – E | Medium |
| I – vi – ii – V | A – F♯m – Bm – E | Medium |
| I – IV – vi – V | A – D – F♯m – E | Medium |
| I – iii – IV – V | A – C♯m – D – E | Medium |
| I – iii – vi – IV | A – C♯m – F♯m – D | Medium |
| IV – I – V – vi | D – A – E – F♯m | Medium |
| I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V | A – E – F♯m – C♯m – D – A – D – E | Medium |
| I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I | A – D – G♯dim – C♯m – F♯m – Bm – E – A | Hard |
| ii – V – I | Bm – E – A | Medium |
| iim7 – V7 – Imaj7 | Bm7 – E7 – Amaj7 | Hard |
| ii – V – I – vi | Bm – E – A – F♯m | Hard |
| I – VI – ii – V | A – F♯ – Bm – E | Hard |
| I – II – V – I | A – B – E – A | Hard |
| I – bVII – IV – I | A – G – D – A | Medium |
| I – bIII – IV | A – C – D | Medium |
| I – V – bVII – IV | A – E – G – D | Medium |
| I – bVI – bVII – I | A – F – G – A | Hard |
| I – IV – iv – I | A – D – Dm – A | Hard |
| 12-Bar Blues (I7 – IV7 – V7) | A7 – A7 – A7 – A7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – D7 – A7 – E7 | Medium |
| Quick-Change Blues | A7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – D7 – A7 – E7 | Medium |
The other keys
Part of the key reference. See also the chords and the scales.