A major scale on bass
The A major scale has seven notes: A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ and G♯ (1 2 3 4 5 6 7). The do-re-mi scale that every other scale is measured against. Bright and settled; it fits major and maj7 chords, and the other six modes are this scale started from a different note.
| Note | A | B | C♯ | D | E | F♯ | G♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half |
7 positions to learn it in
Played three notes on every string, the A major scale has a position starting on each of its notes. They are good for speed, with the same picking pattern on every string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the A major scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; A (A) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (A) | Ahome | Amaj7home |
| 2 (B) | Bmrestless | Bm7restless |
| 3 (C♯) | C♯mhalf-light | C♯m7half-light |
| 4 (D) | Dthe door | Dmaj7the door |
| 5 (E) | Ethe pull | E7the pull |
| 6 (F♯) | F♯mthe shadow | F♯m7the shadow |
| 7 (G♯) | G♯dimthe edge | G♯m7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative minor is the F♯ minor scale: the same notes, started from F♯.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of A major.
Questions
What notes are in the A major scale?
A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯ and G♯. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, and the steps between its notes are W W H W W W H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the A major scale?
The chords made only of its notes: A, Bm, C♯m, D, E, F♯m and G♯dim, and as seventh chords Amaj7, Bm7, C♯m7, Dmaj7, E7, F♯m7 and G♯m7♭5. A is home: A is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative minor of the A major scale?
The F♯ minor scale, which has the same notes started from F♯.
The major scale in every key
Other scales in A
A minorA minor pentatonicA major pentatonicA bluesA DorianA MixolydianA LydianA PhrygianA harmonic minorA melodic minorA Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: bass scales. This scale on guitar, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.