A major
A major is the major key on the tonic A with three sharps: F♯, C♯ and G♯. Its relative key is F♯ minor, its parallel key A minor. On the guitar A major is one of the first keys.
- Tonic
- A
- Key signature
- 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯)
- Tonic chord
- A major, A–C♯–E
- Subdominant
- D major, D–F♯–A
- Dominant
- E major, E–G♯–B
- Leading tone
- G♯
- Relative key
- F♯ minor
- Parallel key
- A minor
The scale with three sharps
In sharp keys the tonic lies a semitone above the last sharp: three sharps F♯, C♯, G♯, and the tonic lies a semitone above G♯, so A. A major is thus the third sharp key on the circle of fifths.
A major scale
The major pattern on A needs three sharps: C♯, F♯ and G♯. The G♯ is the leading tone.
The chords of A major
The seven degrees carry the chords A, Bm, C♯m, D, E, F♯m and G♯°. The progression I–V–vi–IV is A–E–F♯m–D here. Tonic (A), subdominant (D) and dominant (E) are the main functions.
A major and A minor
A major is the parallel key of A minor: same tonic, three sharps against none. An open E major chord becomes E minor by lifting a single finger. With A major and A minor, one finger moves down a fret instead. The change to the parallel key is a much stronger contrast than the change to the relative key, because several notes change at once. More in the article Major and minor: the third as a switch.
Pieces in A major
These sheets are wholly or partly in A major.
Piano
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Prélude A-Dur Frédéric Chopin, op. 28 No. 7, from: 24 Préludes · piano · 1 page
Headed “Andantino” in 3/4, with three sharps. It also says “dolce e semplice”: soft and simple. The piece ends on an A major chord.
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Sonate Nr. 11 A-Dur, Menuetto Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, K. 331 · piano · 3 pages
The sheet contains the second movement, the Menuetto, in 3/4 with three sharps.
Guitar
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Lektion Nr. 5 Fernando Sor, op. 60 No. 5 · guitar · 1 page
The beginning is in A minor. In bar 17, after the repeat sign, three sharps appear in the middle of the staff: the middle section changes to A major, the parallel key.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the G♯: With three sharps, F♯, C♯ and G♯ apply.
- Confusing A major and F♯ minor: Both have three sharps; the ending decides.
- Equating it with A minor: Same tonic, but a different mode: parallel key instead of relative.
Continue on Maikstrings
Related terms
MajorA minorD majorE majorKeyRelative keyCircle of fifthsAccidentalSharp
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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