A is the A major chord, made of the notes A C# E. Most guitarists play it as X 0 2 2 2 0, an open chord. Below are all 6 ways to hold A on the guitar, from the lowest on the neck to the highest, and the same chord in Drop D and DADGAD. The TabTunix app plays each one. Check out our full chord library.
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A
X 0 2 2 2 0
Notes
Degrees: R 3 5. Notes: A C# E.
RA
3C#
5E
Tuning
Inversions
Voicings
How to play A
The shape most players use is X 0 2 2 2 0, from the lowest string to the highest. Hold it like this:
Put your index finger on the D string at fret 2.
Put your middle finger on the G string at fret 2.
Put your ring finger on the B string at fret 2.
Let the A and high E strings ring open.
Do not play the low E string.
A
X 0 2 2 2 0
6 ways to play A
Every shape the chord library holds for A in standard tuning, from low on the neck to high. In each one A is the lowest note; they differ in where your hand sits and in which strings ring.
A chord is yours when you can change to it in time. In TabTunix, put A and the chord before it into a chord-change exercise, set a target tempo, and play the change to a click that counts you through it. Rate each take, and the app keeps your best tempo, so you see it climb.