The open A major chord uses three neighboring strings at the second fret, which can feel crowded if your fingertips bump into each other. The standard shape is x02220: leave the A string open, fret the D, G, and B strings at the second fret, and let the high E string ring open. At usmedia.site, we’ll show a few practical ways to fit your fingers into that space, explain which strings to strum, and give you a simple way to check the chord before you use it in a song.
A major chord at a glance
In standard tuning, the open A major chord is written x02220, read from the thickest string to the thinnest. The x means do not play that string; 0 means play it open.
String: 6 5 4 3 2 1
Note: — A E A C# E
Fret: x 0 2 2 2 0
The chord contains three distinct notes: A, C-sharp, and E. The A string is the lowest note in this shape. The low E string is left out so A remains the bass note.
The usual three-finger fingering places your index, middle, and ring fingers on the D, G, and B strings at fret two. You can also use a small barre across those three strings if that feels more comfortable. Both approaches make the same basic chord; the...
