A Major Chord

A Level 1: The Campfire

A Major (A) is built from the notes A, Db, E. Its intervals are Root — Major 3rd — Perfect 5th. Bright, stable, and resolved. The major triad is the sound of certainty and arrival — warm and complete. It feels like home.

Hear A Major Chord

Piano sample · tap to play

Notes and intervals

Interval Semitones Note
Root 0 A
Major 3rd 4 Db
Perfect 5th 7 E

What does a major chord sound like?

Bright, stable, and resolved. The major triad is the sound of certainty and arrival — warm and complete. It feels like home.

A Major Chord in music

A bright, popular key for both guitar and piano. "Wonderwall" by Oasis, "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty, and "Dancing Queen" by ABBA all use A major.

How to recognise a major chord by ear

Major is the baseline. It sounds "normal" and bright. If a chord feels sunny, open, and settled, it's most likely major. Train yourself to feel the wide, bright third.

Practice identifying this chord in ChordFrog's Level 1: The Campfire .

Practice tip

A major sits a perfect fifth above D, making A→D→A a natural pair. It's also the reference pitch for concert tuning (A440). Practise identifying A major as the "tuning" chord — many musicians have an intuitive sense of A because of this convention.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in a A Major chord?
A Major (A) contains three notes: A, Db, E. The intervals are Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th.
How do I recognise A Major by ear?
Major is the baseline. It sounds "normal" and bright. If a chord feels sunny, open, and settled, it's most likely major. Train yourself to feel the wide, bright third. Practice identifying A Major in ChordFrog's Level 1 (The Campfire).
What level is A Major in ChordFrog?
A Major is introduced at Level 1: The Campfire. This is the starting level with white-key major triads.

Other A chords

All Major Chords chords

Hear a major chord for yourself

Train your ear to recognise this chord instantly with ChordFrog's progressive levels.

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