A Major Chord
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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