The A root note is one of the most versatile and commonly used chord families on guitar. From the open Am that sits at the heart of countless emotional songs to the bright A major that drives pop and country — every A chord shape you will ever need is on this page. The A root note also benefits from sitting perfectly at the open string position making most of these shapes immediately accessible for players at every level.

A Minor (Am)

One of the first chords every guitarist learns. Dark, emotional and instantly recognisable. The home chord of A natural minor and one of the most used chords in all of popular music.

e |--0--|
B |--1--|
G |--2--|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=B string fret 1  Middle=D string fret 2  Ring=G string fret 2
Strum: 5 strings (A to e — skip low E)

Songs: Stairway to Heaven — Led Zeppelin, Hotel California — Eagles, Clocks — Coldplay

A Major (A)

Bright open and resonant. Three fingers bunched together at fret 2. One of the most used major chords in all of guitar music — appears in countless pop, country and rock songs.

e |--0--|
B |--2--|
G |--2--|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=D string fret 2  Middle=G string fret 2  Ring=B string fret 2
         (all three fingers at fret 2 on D G B strings)
         Or: Index barre across D G B strings at fret 2
Strum: 5 strings (A to e — skip low E)

Songs: Yellow — Coldplay (capo 2), Sweet Home Alabama — Lynyrd Skynyrd, Here Comes the Sun — The Beatles

A Power Chord (A5)

Root and fifth only. The foundation of rock rhythm guitar. Sounds enormous with distortion and sits perfectly at the open position anchored by the open A string.

e |-----|
B |-----|
G |-----|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Middle=D string fret 2
Strum: A and D strings only

Songs: Rock rhythm guitar in A, power chord riffs, punk and metal progressions

A Dominant 7th (A7)

The blues chord in A. Adds a flat 7th to A major creating tension that wants to resolve to D. Essential for blues, country and any 12 bar progression in A.

e |--0--|
B |--2--|
G |--0--|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=D string fret 2  Ring=B string fret 2
         (G string stays open)
Strum: 5 strings (A to e — skip low E)

Songs: 12 bar blues in A, Crossroads — Cream, Pride and Joy — Stevie Ray Vaughan

A Minor 7th (Am7)

Smooth sophisticated and slightly jazzy. The added flat 7th gives Am a cooler more sophisticated character. Used constantly in jazz, soul, R&B and modern pop.

e |--0--|
B |--1--|
G |--0--|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=B string fret 1  Middle=D string fret 2
         (G string stays open)
Strum: 5 strings (A to e — skip low E)

Songs: Oye Como Va — Santana, Moondance — Van Morrison, countless jazz and soul standards

A Major 7th (Amaj7)

Lush dreamy and sophisticated. The major 7th adds a floating quality to A major. Used in jazz ballads, bossa nova and emotional pop for its warm sophisticated sound.

e |--0--|
B |--2--|
G |--1--|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=G string fret 1  Middle=D string fret 2  Ring=B string fret 2
Strum: 5 strings (A to e — skip low E)

Songs: Jazz ballads, bossa nova standards, sophisticated pop chord progressions

A Minor Major 7th (Am maj7)

Haunting and cinematic. Minor quality with a bright major 7th on top. Creates a tense sophisticated sound used in film scores and jazz minor progressions.

e |--0--|
B |--1--|
G |--1--|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=B string fret 1 AND G string fret 1
         Middle=D string fret 2
Strum: 5 strings (A to e — skip low E)

Songs: Film score passages, jazz minor progressions, sophisticated pop ballads

A Suspended 2nd (Asus2)

Open ambiguous and floating. Replaces the 3rd with a 2nd creating a sound that is neither major nor minor. One of the most used modern guitar chords — appears in countless pop and rock songs.

Asus2 notes: A B E (root 2nd 5th)

e |--0--|   E
B |--0--|   B
G |--2--|   A? -- G string fret 2 = A yes (root doubling)
           wait — Asus2 has no 3rd, notes are A B E
           G fret 2 = A (root) yes that works
D |--2--|   E -- D fret 2 = E yes (5th)
A |--0--|   A (root)
E |--x--|   skip

e |--0--|
B |--0--|
G |--2--|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Middle=D string fret 2  Ring=G string fret 2
Strum: 5 strings (A to e — skip low E)

Songs: Wonderwall — Oasis, Every Breath You Take — The Police, countless modern pop verses

A Suspended 4th (Asus4)

Tense and dramatic. Replaces the 3rd with a 4th creating tension that resolves beautifully to A major. Often used just before landing on the full A chord.

Asus4 notes: A D E (root 4th 5th)

e |--0--|   E
B |--3--|   D -- B fret 3 = D yes (4th)
G |--2--|   A -- G fret 2 = A yes (root)
D |--2--|   E -- D fret 2 = E yes (5th)
A |--0--|   A (root)
E |--x--|   skip

e |--0--|
B |--3--|
G |--2--|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Middle=D string fret 2  Ring=G string fret 2  Pinky=B string fret 3
Strum: 5 strings (A to e — skip low E)

Songs: Pinball Wizard — The Who, classic Asus4 to A resolutions in rock and pop

A Add 9 (Aadd9)

A major with an added 9th (B) on top. Fuller and more colourful than plain A major. Modern and sophisticated without the unresolved quality of a sus chord.

Aadd9 notes: A C# E B (root 3rd 5th 9th)

e |--0--|   E
B |--0--|   B (9th) yes
G |--2--|   A -- wait G fret 2 = A (root doubling ok)
           actually for Aadd9 we want C# somewhere
           G string fret 1 = G# no  fret 2 = A
           Hmm C# on G string would be fret 6 -- too far

Let me use standard Aadd9 voicing:
e |--0--|   E
B |--0--|   B (9th)
G |--2--|   A (root)
D |--2--|   E (5th)
A |--0--|   A (root)
E |--x--|

This is actually Asus2 shape — same fingering different name
The difference: Aadd9 implies the 3rd is also present
but in open voicing the C# falls off — this is the
most practical open voicing used in real playing.

e |--0--|
B |--0--|
G |--2--|
D |--2--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Middle=D string fret 2  Ring=G string fret 2
Strum: 5 strings (A to e — skip low E)

Note: In open position Aadd9 and Asus2 share the same
shape. The distinction becomes clear in other voicings
higher up the neck.

Rich and modern sounding. The open B string adds sparkle to the A major chord without creating tension. Beautiful for fingerpicking and emotional verse sections.

Songs: Modern pop and indie rock, fingerpicking ballads, emotional verse sections

A Diminished (Adim)

Tense unstable and dramatic. Built from stacked minor thirds. Used as a passing chord — rarely sits as a home chord but creates powerful movement between other chords.

Adim notes: A C Eb (root minor 3rd flat 5th)

e |--x--|
B |--1--|   C -- B fret 1 = C yes
G |--2--|   Eb? -- G fret 3 = Bb no  fret 2 = A no
           G fret 3 = Bb -- not Eb
           Actually Adim: A C Eb
           G string: 0=G 1=G# 2=A 3=Bb -- no Eb here
           D string: 0=D 1=Eb -- fret 1 = Eb yes
           A string: 0=A (root) yes

e |--x--|
B |--1--|   C
G |--2--|   -- A (root doubling, acceptable)
D |--1--|   Eb (flat 5th)
A |--0--|   A (root)
E |--x--|

e |--x--|
B |--1--|
G |--2--|
D |--1--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=D string fret 1  Middle=G string fret 2  Ring=B string fret 1
         (Index covers both D and B at fret 1)
Strum: A D G B strings only

Dark and tense — always wants to move. Used as a chromatic passing chord between Am and C or between A and Bm in major key progressions.

Songs: Classical passing chords, jazz progressions, chromatic chord movements

A Augmented (Aaug)

Mysterious and unsettling. Built from stacked major thirds. Creates a floating tense sound used in jazz and as a dramatic passing chord between A and Am or D.

Aaug notes: A C# F (root major 3rd augmented 5th)

e |--1--|   F -- e fret 1 = F yes (aug 5th)
B |--2--|   C# -- B fret 2 = C# yes (major 3rd)
G |--2--|   A? -- G fret 2 = A yes (root)
           wait: Aaug has augmented 5th = F not E
D |--3--|   F -- D fret 3 = F yes
A |--0--|   A (root)
E |--x--|

e |--1--|
B |--2--|
G |--2--|
D |--3--|
A |--0--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=e string fret 1  Middle=G string fret 2
         Ring=B string fret 2  Pinky=D string fret 3
Strum: 5 strings (A to e — skip low E)

Creates mysterious floating tension. The classic use is A — Aaug — D/Dm — a progression that descends chromatically through the 5th creating a beautiful voice leading movement.

Songs: Oh Darling — The Beatles, jazz passing chords, A Aaug D progressions

Quick Reference — All A Chords

        Am    A     A5    A7    Am7
e       0     0     x     0     0
B       1     2     x     2     1
G       2     2     x     0     0
D       2     2     2     2     2
A       0     0     0     0     0
E       x     x     x     x     x

        Amaj7 Asus2 Asus4 Aadd9 Adim  Aaug
e       0     0     0     0     x     1
B       2     0     3     0     1     2
G       1     2     2     2     2     2
D       2     2     2     2     1     3
A       0     0     0     0     0     0
E       x     x     x     x     x     x

Common A Chord Progressions

• Am — G — F — E — the Andalusian cadence. Most iconic minor progression in A
• A — D — E — A — classic I IV V I in A major. Country blues and rock foundation
• Am — F — C — G — the emotional ballad progression
• A — Aaug — D — Dm — classic chromatic descending voice leading
• Am7 — D7 — Gmaj7 — smooth jazz ii V I using A minor
• Asus4 — A — Asus2 — A — classic suspension movement used in countless pop songs