Guitar scale
A Major (Ionian) Guitar Scale
A Major (Ionian) is a seven-note scale built from A, B, C#, D, E, F#, and G#. It is the 1st relative mode of A major. It is also commonly called A Ionian. Use it to study the scale's notes, interval formula, and guitar fretboard positions.
- Notes
- ABC#DEF#G#
- Formula
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- Semitones
- 0 2 4 5 7 9 11
- Parent scale
- A major
- Also called
- A Ionian
How to read this scale
The notes are shown as pitch classes first. Square markers represent A root notes in the fretboard view, while circular markers represent the other notes in the scale.
Use the interactive fretboard to locate the A root notes and connect the remaining major (ionian) tones across standard tuning.
This same note pattern is also commonly called A Ionian.
Fretboard diagram
Open this scale in the fretboard tool
Start with A Major (Ionian) loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboardCommon chords and contexts
- Use A major over A major, Amaj7, and straightforward major-key progressions.
- It is also the parent scale for the seven major-scale modes that share the same notes.