A

Diatonic Scale

A Major

The brightest, most stable scale — the foundation of Western tonal music.

Notes in A Major

A1
B2
C#3
D4
E5
F#6
G#7
A8

Chords in A Major

7 diatonic chords
DegreeChordNotesQuality
IAA – C# – Emajor
iiBmB – D – F#minor
iiiC#mC# – E – G#minor
IVDD – F# – Amajor
VEE – G# – Bmajor
viF#mF# – A – C#minor
viiG#°G# – B – Ddiminished

Other Scales in A

Natural MinorA, B, C, D, E, F, GHarmonic MinorA, B, C, D, E, F, G#Melodic MinorA, B, C, D, E, F#, G#DorianA, B, C, D, E, F#, GPhrygianA, A#, C, D, E, F, GLydianA, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#MixolydianA, B, C#, D, E, F#, GLocrianA, A#, C, D, D#, F, GMajor PentatonicA, B, C#, E, F#Minor PentatonicA, C, D, E, GBluesA, C, D, D#, E, GWhole ToneA, B, C#, D#, F, GDiminished (H-W)A, A#, C, C#, D#, E, F#, GDiminished (W-H)A, B, C, D, D#, F, F#, G#Phrygian DominantA, A#, C#, D, E, F, GHungarian MinorA, B, C, D#, E, F, G#Lydian DominantA, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G

Major in All 12 Keys

CC D E F G A BC#D♭Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb CDD E F# G A B C#D#E♭Eb F G Ab Bb C DEE F# G# A B C# D#FF G A Bb C D EF#G♭F# G# A# B C# D# FGG A B C D E F#G#A♭Ab Bb C Db Eb F GAA B C# D E F# G#A#B♭Bb C D Eb F G ABB C# D# E F# G# A#

Practice by Ear

Scale RecognitionIdentify the Major scale by ear →Play A MajorHear the scale and practice recognising it →Chord Recognition TrainerIdentify the chords above by ear →Progression TrainerIdentify common progressions in this key →

Chords in A Major

The A major scale contains the notes A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#. The brightest, most stable scale — the foundation of Western tonal music.

The diatonic chords in A major are A (I), Bm (ii), C#m (iii), D (IV), E (V), F#m (vi), G#° (vii). These are the chords you can use when writing or improvising in this key — every note in each chord belongs to the A major scale.

To develop your ear for the A major sound, use the scale and chord trainers linked above. Being able to recognise these sounds by ear — not just read them from a chart — is what separates musicians who truly hear music from those who only read it.