A major piano chord (A)
A major chord is made of the root, the major third and the perfect fifth. It is the backbone of most songs: a clear, stable, bright sound.
On the keyboard
Root position
- Notes
- A – C♯ – E
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 3 – 5
1st inversion
- Notes
- C♯ – E – A
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 2 – 5
2nd inversion
- Notes
- E – A – C♯
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 3 – 5
Chord notes
| Note | Interval |
|---|---|
| A | root |
| C♯ (C sharp) | major third |
| E | perfect fifth |
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 · A – C♯ – E
A progression with this chord
The most common progression in pop music: thousands of songs are built on these four chords.