×AEAC#E
Fig. 1 · A · open

guitar chord

A

A1C♯3E5

A major third and a perfect fifth over the root.

on ukuleleon pianothe scale

Every fingering that fits a hand

Fig. 2

x02220

open

Fig. 3

502220

moderate

Fig. 4

x0222x

open

Fig. 5

x02225

hard

Fig. 6

50222x

hard

What is true of it

A is A, C♯ and E — 1, 3 and 5 counted from A.

On an instrument that cannot reach all 3, the 5 goes first, in that order.

The easiest of the 5 fingerings below is x02220: 3 fingers, held at the 2nd fret.

2 of them use open strings, which is what makes a shape quiet to change to.

1 string stays silent.

Where its notes are on the neck

EADGBE123456789101112513513515131353515135
Fig. 7 — first 12 frets

The brass dots are A, the root. Everything else is a chord tone with its degree printed in it.

With a different note underneath

first inversion

A/C♯

x42220

second inversion

A/E

002220

An inversion is the same chord with a different note lowest. The name changes to a slash name because the bass is what a listener hears as the foundation.

A in other shapes

AmminorAdimdiminishedAaugaugmentedA5power chordAsus2suspended secondAsus4suspended fourth

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFall 374