Piano chord · Triads
A major chord on piano
Right hand: A (1), C♯ (3), E (5)
How to play A on piano: the keys to press, which fingers to use, inversions and how it’s written on the staff.
Bright, stable and resolved — the foundation of most songs.
A is the I chord in A major, IV in E major and V in D major. In minor keys: III in F♯ minor, V in D minor, VI in C♯ minor and VII in B minor.
- Notes
- AC♯E
- Formula
- 135
- Built from
- root · major 3rd · perfect 5th
Piano
Root position · numbers are finger numbers
How to play it
Right handA1 · thumbC♯3 · middleE5 · pinky
Left handA5 · pinkythe root, an octave lower
Finger numbers: 1 thumb · 2 index · 3 middle · 4 ring · 5 pinky. Inversions use the same notes with a different one on the bottom — they help you move smoothly between chords. Tap any key to hear it.
Tips for playing A on piano
A, C♯, E — the C♯ in the middle is a black key.
You’ll find A in common progressions such as A–E–F♯m–D (the pop progression in A major), A–D–E–D (three-chord rock in A major) and A–F♯m–D–E (the ’50s progression in A major).
Learning piano? A is part of stage 5 (“D, A and E major”) of our first piano chords path.
