A major chords, relative minor and Camelot code (11B)
A major has 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯). Its chords are A, Bm, C♯m, D, E, F♯m and G♯°. The relative minor is F♯ minor and the Camelot code is 11B, so it mixes cleanly with 10B, 12B and 11A.
Notes in the A major scale
A major has 3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯).
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C♯ | D | E | F♯ | G♯ |
Chords in A major
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get the seven chords that belong to the key:
| 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♯° | G♯ · B · D |
Common progressions in A major
- A – E – F♯m – D (I–V–vi–IV): the most used pop progression of the last forty years.
- A – F♯m – D – E (I–vi–IV–V): the 1950s doo-wop turnaround.
- Bm – E – A (ii–V–I): the jazz cadence.
- F♯m – D – A – E (vi–IV–I–V): the same four chords as I–V–vi–IV, started on the minor chord for a darker feel.
Keys that mix with A major
A major is 11B on the Camelot wheel. For a clean blend, go to a key next to it:
| Camelot | Key | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 10B | D major | One step round the wheel: shares six of its seven notes |
| 12B | E major | One step the other way: also shares six of seven notes |
| 11A | F♯ minor | The relative minor: exactly the same notes |
How the wheel works is in the Camelot wheel explained, and how to use it in a set is in harmonic mixing for DJs.
Relative and parallel keys
The relative minor, F♯ minor, uses exactly the same notes with a different home chord. The parallel minor, A minor, keeps A as home but changes three notes. More on the difference in relative major and minor keys.
Questions people ask
What chords are in A major?
A (I), Bm (ii), C♯m (iii), D (IV), E (V), F♯m (vi) and G♯° (vii°).
What is the relative minor of A major?
F♯ minor. It uses the same 7 notes, A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, but centres on F♯ instead of A.
What is the Camelot code for A major?
11B. In Open Key notation it is 4d.
What keys mix well with A major?
D major (10B), E major (12B) and F♯ minor (11A). They sit next to 11B on the Camelot wheel.
How many sharps or flats does A major have?
3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯).