A chord (A major) on bass
A (A major) has three notes: A, C sharp and E. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. In major keys, A is the I chord in A major, the IV in E major and the V in D major.
How to play A on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | A |
|---|---|
| Also written | Amaj, AM |
| Notes | A C# E |
| Formula | 1 3 5 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Major chord |
A across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 0 E (5), fret 5 A (1), fret 9 C# (3), fret 12 E (5), fret 17 A (1), fret 21 C# (3), fret 24 E (5).
- A string: fret 0 A (1), fret 4 C# (3), fret 7 E (5), fret 12 A (1), fret 16 C# (3), fret 19 E (5), fret 24 A (1).
- D string: fret 2 E (5), fret 7 A (1), fret 11 C# (3), fret 14 E (5), fret 19 A (1), fret 23 C# (3).
- G string: fret 2 A (1), fret 6 C# (3), fret 9 E (5), fret 14 A (1), fret 18 C# (3), fret 21 E (5).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Questions
What notes are in the A chord?
A (A major) has three notes: A, C sharp and E. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. A is the root, C# is the major third and E is the perfect fifth.
How do you play A on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 10, root on the E string, fret 17. Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
What key is A in?
In major keys, A is the I chord in A major, the IV in E major and the V in D major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between A and Am?
A has a major 3rd, C#. Am lowers it a half step to C, which is what makes it sound minor. The root and 5th stay the same.