Learn the A major scale — notes, intervals, chords, modes, and more.
The A major scale contains the following notes:
A – B – C♯ – D – E – F♯ – G♯The scale degrees of the A major scale are:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7| Scale Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | A |
| 2 | B |
| 3 | C♯ |
| 4 | D |
| 5 | E |
| 6 | F♯ |
| 7 | G♯ |
The A major scale uses the interval pattern W, W, H, W, W, W, H
| From | To | Step |
|---|---|---|
| A | B | W |
| B | C♯ | W |
| C♯ | D | H |
| D | E | W |
| E | F♯ | W |
| F♯ | G♯ | W |
| G♯ | A | H |
| Scale Degree | Note | Interval from A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Perfect Unison |
| 2 | B | Major 2nd |
| 3 | C♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | D | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | E | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | G♯ | Major 7th |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | A | A, C♯, E |
| ii | Bm | B, D, F♯ |
| iii | C♯m | C♯, E, G♯ |
| IV | D | D, F♯, A |
| V | E | E, G♯, B |
| vi | F♯m | F♯, A, C♯ |
| vii° | G♯dim | G♯, B, D |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Imaj7 | Amaj7 | A, C♯, E, G♯ |
| ii7 | Bm7 | B, D, F♯, A |
| iii7 | C♯m7 | C♯, E, G♯, B |
| IVmaj7 | Dmaj7 | D, F♯, A, C♯ |
| V7 | E7 | E, G♯, B, D |
| vi7 | F♯m7 | F♯, A, C♯, E |
| viiø7 | G♯m7♭5 | G♯, B, D, F♯ |
The modes of A major use the same notes but start on different scale degrees.
| Mode | Starting note | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A Ionian | A | A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯ |
| B Dorian | B | B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A |
| C♯ Phrygian | C♯ | C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B |
| D Lydian | D | D, E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯ |
| E Mixolydian | E | E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D |
| F♯ Aeolian | F♯ | F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D, E |
| G♯ Locrian | G♯ | G♯, A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ |
The relative minor is F♯ minor. F♯ natural minor uses the exact same 7 notes as A major but starts on the 6th degree (F♯).
A Lydian has a raised 4th (D♯), while A major has a perfect 4th (D). That single note difference gives Lydian a dreamy, floating quality compared to the grounded sound of major.
A Mixolydian has a flat 7th (G), while A major has a major 7th (G♯). This gives Mixolydian a slightly bluesy, dominant-chord quality while major sounds fully resolved.
A minor has a minor 3rd (C), minor 6th (F), and minor 7th (G), while A major has a major 3rd (C♯), major 6th (F♯), and major 7th (G♯). This gives minor its darker, more melancholic sound compared to the bright, stable quality of major.