What is the relative minor of A major?

F# minor — same three-sharp key signature.

What are the chords in the key of A major?

A major (I), B minor (ii), C# minor (iii), D major (IV), E major (V), F# minor (vi), and G# diminished (vii°).

Key of A major — notes, key signature, and chords

A major has three sharps — F#, C#, and G# — and is a favourite key for guitar, violin, and singer-songwriter material. The open strings of a guitar (E-A-D-G-B-E) line up with chords in A, making it harmonically natural for the instrument. A major sits three clockwise steps from C on the circle of fifths.

Key signature

3sharps

1.F#
2.C#
3.G#

Added in the standard order of sharps.

Diatonic chords

The seven triads built on each scale degree. These are the chords you hear used most in A major:

Roman	Chord	Quality	Notes
I	A	major	A · C# · E
ii	Bm	minor	B · D · F#
iii	C#m	minor	C# · E · G#
IV	D	major	D · F# · A
V	E	major	E · G# · B
vi	F#m	minor	F# · A · C#
vii°	G#°	diminished	G# · B · D

Common progressions

I–IV–V in A is A–D–E, the foundation of countless rock and blues songs (and the open-chord vocabulary every beginning guitarist learns). I–V–vi–IV is A–E–F#m–D. The ii–V–I jazz cadence is Bm–E–A.

Relative minor

The relative minor of A major is F# minor — it shares the same key signature, just centred on the 6th degree of the A major scale (F#). A piece can move between A major and F# minor freely without any change of accidentals.

Common mistakes

The three sharps are F#, C#, G# — added in the standard order. The most common slip is forgetting the G# (the leading tone) when sight-reading, which deflates the cadence. The relative minor is F# minor, which shares the same key signature.

Drill it

The Circle of Fifths trainer drills every key signature — A major included — with timed flash cards and best-time tracking.

Open the Circle of Fifths Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzle

Frequently asked

How many sharps does A major have?: A major has three sharps: F#, C#, and G#.
What are the notes in the A major scale?: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#.
What is the relative minor of A major?: F# minor — same three-sharp key signature.
What are the chords in the key of A major?: A major (I), B minor (ii), C# minor (iii), D major (IV), E major (V), F# minor (vi), and G# diminished (vii°).