A chords on guitar
Every A chord on guitar: major, minor, sevenths and more, with the easiest shape for each.
A major shapes ranked by difficulty
Each row lists the note on all six strings, from the 6th string to the 1st.
Shape 1 · easiestx02220 · no barre 6th string E: muted · 5th string A: A · 4th string D: E · 3rd string G: A · 2nd string B: C# · 1st string E: E
Shape 2577655 · barre 6th string E: A · 5th string A: E · 4th string D: A · 3rd string G: C# · 2nd string B: E · 1st string E: A
Shape 3x-12-14-14-14-12 · barre 6th string E: muted · 5th string A: A · 4th string D: E · 3rd string G: A · 2nd string B: C# · 1st string E: E
Shape 4 · hardestx-12-11-9-10-9 · barre 6th string E: muted · 5th string A: A · 4th string D: C# · 3rd string G: E · 2nd string B: A · 1st string E: C#
A major without a barre
Other A chords compared with A major
Notes and the selected shape-to-shape fingering change for each chord.
| Chord | Notes | Compared with A | Shape change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Am | A · C · E | Shared notes: A, E; C# changes to C. | x02220 → x02210 No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret. |
| A7 | A · C# · E · G | Shared notes: A, C#, E; Adds G. | x02220 → x02020 1 finger stays in place: index finger on the D string at fret 2. |
| Amaj7 | A · C# · E · G# | Shared notes: A, C#, E; Adds G#. | x02220 → x02120 1 finger stays in place: ring finger on the B string at fret 2. |
| Am7 | A · C · E · G | Shared notes: A, E; Drops C#; adds C, G. | x02220 → x02010 No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret. |
| Asus2 | A · B · E | Shared notes: A, E; C# changes to B. | x02220 → x02200 2 fingers stay in place: index finger on the D string at fret 2; middle finger on the G string at fret 2. |
| Asus4 | A · D · E | Shared notes: A, E; C# changes to D. | x02220 → x00230 No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret. |
| Aadd9 | A · C# · E · B | Shared notes: A, C#, E; Adds B. | x02220 → x02420 1 finger stays in place: index finger on the D string at fret 2. |
| Adim | A · C · Eb | Shared notes: A; C#, E change to C, Eb. | x02220 → x01215 No finger stays in place; each finger moves at most 1 fret. |
| Aaug | A · C# · E# | Shared notes: A, C#; E changes to E#. | x02220 → x03221 2 fingers stay in place: middle finger on the G string at fret 2; ring finger on the B string at fret 2. |
Chords that share the most keys with A
Each count lists major and minor keys containing both chords.
F#m
6 shared keys: D major, E major, A major, C# minor, F# minor, B minor
F#m7
6 shared keys: D major, E major, A major, C# minor, F# minor, B minor
Amaj7
4 shared keys: E major, A major, C# minor, F# minor
Bm
4 shared keys: D major, A major, F# minor, B minor
Bm7
4 shared keys: D major, A major, F# minor, B minor
8 of the 10 A chords on guitar have an easy shape (no barre, three fingers or fewer, first four frets): A, Am7, A7, Asus2, Asus4, Am, Amaj7, Aadd9.