A Major Scale on Guitar: Notes, Shapes and Positions

The A major scale is A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ and G♯. Its formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Start with the root on the low E string at the 5th fret, then learn the five positions below, from the G shape at the 2nd fret up the neck.

Keys

A Major Scale: 5 Positions

9C shape
11A shape
2G shape
4E shape
6D shape

CAGED Chords — A

9Position 1
12Position 2
2Position 3
5Position 4
7Position 5

Triads — A

Root position

9C shape
12A shape
2G shape
5E shape

Notes and formula

Degree1234567
NoteABC♯DEF♯G♯

A major has 3 sharps (C♯, F♯ and G♯).

The A major scale across the whole neck

Every A major scale note from the nut to the 15th fret: E on the low E string, fret 0; F sharp on the low E string, fret 2; G sharp on the low E string, fret 4; A (root) on the low E string, fret 5; B on the low E string, fret 7; C sharp on the low E string, fret 9; D on the low E string, fret 10; E on the low E string, fret 12; F sharp on the low E string, fret 14; A (root) on the A string, fret 0; B on the A string, fret 2; C sharp on the A string, fret 4; D on the A string, fret 5; E on the A string, fret 7; F sharp on the A string, fret 9; G sharp on the A string, fret 11; A (root) on the A string, fret 12; B on the A string, fret 14; D on the D string, fret 0; E on the D string, fret 2; F sharp on the D string, fret 4; G sharp on the D string, fret 6; A (root) on the D string, fret 7; B on the D string, fret 9; C sharp on the D string, fret 11; D on the D string, fret 12; E on the D string, fret 14; G sharp on the G string, fret 1; A (root) on the G string, fret 2; B on the G string, fret 4; C sharp on the G string, fret 6; D on the G string, fret 7; E on the G string, fret 9; F sharp on the G string, fret 11; G sharp on the G string, fret 13; A (root) on the G string, fret 14; B on the B string, fret 0; C sharp on the B string, fret 2; D on the B string, fret 3; E on the B string, fret 5; F sharp on the B string, fret 7; G sharp on the B string, fret 9; A (root) on the B string, fret 10; B on the B string, fret 12; C sharp on the B string, fret 14; D on the B string, fret 15; E on the high e string, fret 0; F sharp on the high e string, fret 2; G sharp on the high e string, fret 4; A (root) on the high e string, fret 5; B on the high e string, fret 7; C sharp on the high e string, fret 9; D on the high e string, fret 10; E on the high e string, fret 12; F sharp on the high e string, fret 14.

A Major scale, frets 0–15. Roots (A) in green.

The root, A, sits on the low E string at fret 5 and on the A string open and at fret 12. Those are the anchors every position is built around.

Five of the six open strings belong to A major (E, A, D, B and high e), so they can ring against fretted notes; the other one will clash.

Position by position: G shape from the 2nd fret; E shape from the 4th fret; D shape from the 6th fret; C shape from the 9th fret; A shape from the 11th fret.

Chords in A major

The seven chords of A major are I A, ii Bm, iii C♯m, IV D, V E, vi F♯m and vii° G♯°.

So I–IV–V in A is A, D and E; the pop progression I–V–vi–IV is A, E, F♯m, D; and ii–V–I is Bm, E, A.

Its relative minor is F♯ minor, the sixth note: the same seven notes, centred on F♯.

The nearest keys are a fifth away: E major differs by one note: D♯ instead of D; D major differs by one note: G instead of G♯.

To learn it, play the G shape from the 2nd fret slowly, saying each note name, then link it to the next position up. Land on A at the end of each run, and you'll hear the scale settle on its root.

A Major scale FAQs

Which notes make up the A major scale?

A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ and G♯. The formula is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.

What is the relative minor of A major?

F♯ minor. It uses the same seven notes as A major, starting from the sixth note, F♯.

Where do I play the A major scale on guitar?

Start from the root on the low E string at the 5th fret. The G shape from the 2nd fret is the lowest of the five positions, and the other four continue up the neck to the 12th fret and beyond.

Learn more

The major scale on guitar explains how the scale is built and how to use it, and the guitar scale lessons set out what to learn next. The scale library has every scale in every key.