How to play the A major over F# chord on guitar

The A chord, pronounced "A major over F sharp," is a unique voicing that combines the bright, open sound of an A major chord with the added tension and dissonance of an F# bass note. This chord is particularly notable in rock and metal genres, where it can create a powerful, heavy atmosphere. Famous examples include Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and Avenged Sevenfold's "Nightmare."

The most common way to play the A major over F# chord on guitar is as a barre chord on the 2nd fret.

Follow these finger positions to play a A major over F# chord on your guitar:

1. Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of all six strings (E, A, D, G, B, and high E), forming a barre.
2. Place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the 4th (D) string.
3. Place your pinky finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
4. Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd (B) string.

Strum all six strings together to play the A major over F# chord. Make sure to apply enough pressure with your index finger to properly fret all the strings in the barre.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the A major over F# chord, try playing an F# bass note with your thumb on the 6th string, 2nd fret, while forming a standard A major chord shape with your other fingers. This eliminates the need for a barre and still maintains the basic harmony of the chord.

The A major over F# barre chord is a great option when you want a fuller, more resonant sound compared to the standard A/F# chord.

Here's how to play an A major over F# barre chord:

1. Place your index finger across all six strings at the 2nd fret, creating a barre.
2. Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th (A) string.
3. Place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the 4th (D) string.
4. Place your pinky finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
5. Strum from the 5th (A) string down.

The A major chord played over an F# bass note creates a shimmering, ethereal sound that adds an unexpected twist to chord progressions. This chord, often notated as A/F#, injects a sense of longing, nostalgia, or even a dreamlike quality into the music. Here are some common chord progressions featuring the A/F# chord:

• I - V/ii - IV - iv (A - E/G# - D - Bm). Used in "Wonderwall" by Oasis and "No Woman, No Cry" by Bob Marley.
• I - V/ii - vi - IV (A - E/G# - F#m - D). Used in "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis.
• ii - V/ii - I - IV (Bm - E/G# - A - D).
• I - V/ii - ii - V (A - E/G# - Bm - E).
• vi - V/ii - IV - I (F#m - E/G# - D - A).

To master the A major over F# guitar chord, try this simple drill: play each note of the chord individually, starting with the lowest note (F#) and ascending to the highest (E). Focus on playing each note cleanly and in tune. Once you're comfortable with that, practice playing the notes in reverse order, starting with the highest note and descending to the lowest.

Another effective drill is to play the chord as an arpeggio, plucking each note one at a time in a repeating pattern. Experiment with different rhythms and fingering patterns to develop dexterity and muscle memory.

Here are 10 popular songs you can play with the A major over F# chord.

1. I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston (A, F#)
2. Rocket Man by Elton John (F#, A, Dmaj7, E)
3. Angie by The Rolling Stones (Am, E, G, F#)
4. The River by Bruce Springsteen (F#, A, Bm, D, E)
5. Africa by Toto (F#, A, Bm, D, E)
6. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith (F#, A, Bm, E)
7. All My Life by K-Ci & JoJo (F#, A, C#m, Dm)
8. Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx (F#, A, Bm, C#m, D, E)
9. To Be With You by Mr. Big (A, F#, Bm, E)
10. Champagne Supernova by Oasis (F#, A, Bm, D, E)