A Chord on Ukulele
A = A – C# – E (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th)
A major sits two frets up from A minor's shape but only needs two fingers instead of one: middle finger on fret two of the G string, index finger on fret one of the C string, leaving the E and A strings open. Because both fretted notes are low, close together, and on adjacent strings, it's a fast shape to learn even though it isn't a single-finger chord. It's a good early example of how ukulele chord shapes often cluster tightly near the nut rather than spreading across the neck, a direct result of the instrument's short scale length.
A major functions as the V chord in the key of D, and as a key center on its own it has a clear, ringing quality since the open E and A strings both belong to the chord, giving it more open-string resonance than F or G's shapes get. Compared to A minor's shape two frets back, the jump from Am to A major is really a jump from a minor to a major third, and hearing that half-step's effect on the same two open strings is a useful ear-training moment for beginners. As a key center, A major also sits comfortably for singers with a slightly higher range, which is part of why it turns up in ukulele arrangements transposed up from C or G. Its two open strings, E and A, also mean A major keeps some of the ringing resonance that C and G enjoy, even though it needs two fretted fingers rather than one, unlike the true single-finger shapes of C and Am.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
Keep the index and middle fingers stacked close together rather than spread — since they're only one fret and one string apart, cramped hand position is actually the natural, correct position here, not a mistake to fix. A common error is letting the middle finger's tip lean over and mute the open E string underneath it; keep it arched. Practicing A-to-D and A-to-E7 covers the two changes this chord shows up in most often. It's also worth practicing the switch from A minor to A major directly, moving only the index finger onto the C string while the middle finger relocates one fret up on the G string, since that direct comparison makes the major/minor contrast very audible.
Common Progressions
- V – I (A – D, in the key of D)
- I – IV – V (A – D – E, in the key of A)
- I – V – vi – IV (A – E – F#m – D)
- IV – I (D – A) as a plagal-leaning move
FAQ
- How does A major differ from A minor on ukulele?
- Only the C string's fret changes, from open (minor third relative to the shape) to the first fret (major third) — a single half-step that flips the chord's whole color from minor to major while both E and A strings stay open in either version.
- What is A major's role in the key of D?
- It's the V chord, carrying the strongest pull back toward D as the tonic, and the A-D pairing is one of the most common two-chord relationships in songs written in D.
- Why do both A major and A minor leave two strings open?
- Because the E and A strings' open pitches already belong to both the major and minor triad built on A — only the C string changes, from open in the minor shape to the first fret in the major shape, since that's the string carrying the chord's third.
- Where does A major sit relative to D and E?
- It's the V chord of D and, moving the other direction, is itself resolved into by its own V chord, E — the same tight fifths relationship that links C-F-G and G-D-A appears again here as D-A-E.
- Does A major's two-finger shape ever get simplified further?
- Not really — because its two fretted notes sit on adjacent strings only a fret apart, it's already about as compact as a two-finger shape can be, so there isn't a meaningfully easier alternative fingering in common use.
- How quickly should a beginner expect to master the A major shape?
- Usually within the first couple of practice sessions once C, Am, and F are already comfortable, since it reuses the same low-fret, close-finger habits those earlier shapes already build.
A on other instruments: A on Guitar, A on Piano. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.