fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON GUITAR

A Major

The bright, stable home of common-practice tonality. Whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half pattern across seven letters.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
Choose a root
Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds an octave below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title A Major Verovio
Tuning
FretboardTuning: EADGBE
35791215EADGBEEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABDEF♯G♯ABC♯DEG♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Alternate arrangements
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
Compare with
Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the A Major scale?

The A Major scale uses the notes A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯ (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What chords work over A Major?

The diatonic chords of A major: A major, ii minor, iii minor, IV major, V major (or V7), vi minor, vii°. Strong cadences use IV→V→I.

How do I finger A Major on Guitar?

On guitar, scales are typically learned as position patterns — three- or four-notes-per-string shapes that move up the neck. The CAGED system positions each scale in five interconnected patterns; the three-notes-per-string approach simplifies modal scales.

When would I use the Major scale?

The bright, stable home of common-practice tonality. Whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half pattern across seven letters.