A Major Scale

Notes in the A Major Scale

Interval Pattern

Chords Built on Scale Degrees

Key Signature

3 ♯ — The A key signature uses F♯, C♯, G♯.

A Major Scale in Practice

The A Major Scale uses the key signature of 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯). A major has three sharps (F#, C#, G#) and a bright, clear sound. It is extremely common in popular music and rock, particularly on guitar, and is easily sung by most voices. On guitar, A positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.

The major scale is the foundation of Western music, featuring a bright, happy sound. It follows the whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half step pattern. When played starting on A, the 7 notes are A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯. In this key the signature has 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯). A is the universal tuning reference pitch (A440) and sits naturally on guitar, mandolin, and violin as an open string. Blues guitarists gravitate toward A because the open A string provides a driving bass note for shuffle rhythms and the standard blues box pattern sits comfortably in fifth position.

Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments

Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.

Related Scales

Guitar: A Major Scale Positions

The A key offers 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like A are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.