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A major scale
A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯: the A major scale has 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯). Change the root or the scale type below to see any other scale.
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Notes of the A major scale
The A major scale has 7 notes: A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ and G♯. Like every major scale, it follows the pattern W–W–H–W–W–W–H (W = whole step, H = half step) from A up to the next A.
It has 3 sharps: F♯, C♯ and G♯.
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Tonic |
| 2 | B | Supertonic |
| 3 | C♯ | Mediant |
| 4 | D | Subdominant |
| 5 | E | Dominant |
| 6 | F♯ | Submediant |
| 7 | G♯ | Leading tone |
Chords in A major
Building a triad on each note of the scale gives the chords of A major: A, Bm, C♯m, D, E, F♯m and G♯dim.
| Degree | Triad | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | A (A C♯ E) | Amaj7 (A C♯ E G♯) |
| ii | Bm (B D F♯) | Bm7 (B D F♯ A) |
| iii | C♯m (C♯ E G♯) | C♯m7 (C♯ E G♯ B) |
| IV | D (D F♯ A) | Dmaj7 (D F♯ A C♯) |
| V | E (E G♯ B) | E7 (E G♯ B D) |
| vi | F♯m (F♯ A C♯) | F♯m7 (F♯ A C♯ E) |
| vii° | G♯dim (G♯ B D) | G♯m7♭5 (G♯ B D F♯) |
Key signature and related keys
A major uses the key signature with 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯). Its relative minor is F♯ minor: the same notes and key signature, starting on F♯. Its parallel minor is A minor, which starts on the same note, A.
All major and minor scales
Major scales
- C major scale
- G major scale
- D major scale
- A major scale
- E major scale
- B major scale
- F♯ major scale
- D♭ major scale
- A♭ major scale
- E♭ major scale
- B♭ major scale
- F major scale
Natural minor scales
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the A major scale?
A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ and G♯.
How many sharps or flats are in A major?
3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯).
What is the relative minor of A major?
F♯ minor. Both keys share the same key signature.
What chords are in the key of A major?
A (I), Bm (ii), C♯m (iii), D (IV), E (V), F♯m (vi), G♯dim (vii°).