Learn › A Major Chord Inversions (A, A/C#, A/E)
New Released in April 2026
A Major Chord Inversions (A, A/C#, A/E)
A major chord inversions: root position A (A C# E), 1st inversion A/C# (C# E A) and 2nd inversion A/E (E A C#). Same three notes, a different note in the bass. Learn to spot each inversion by its shape, then use them to move between chords without jumps.
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- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
The three positions of A
Root position starts on A, the 1st inversion on C#, the 2nd on E.
Root position: A C# E
1st inversion: C# E A
2nd inversion: E A C#
- Root position: starts on A, a white key; black keys: C#
- 1st inversion: starts on C#, a black key; black keys: C#
- 2nd inversion: starts on E, a white key; black keys: C#
How to tell the A inversions apart
Two thirds stacked = root position. A fourth anywhere = an inversion, and the root is its top note.
| Position | Bass | Name | Figured bass | Shape (bottom to top) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | A | A | 5/3 | major 3rd + minor 3rd |
| 1st inversion | C# | A/C# | 6 (6/3) | minor 3rd + perfect 4th |
| 2nd inversion | E | A/E | 6/4 | perfect 4th + major 3rd |
Both hands, all three positions
| Position | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|
| Root position (A C# E) | 1-3-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 1st inversion (C# E A) | 1-2-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 2nd inversion (E A C#) | 1-3-5 | 5-2-1 |
Keep the thumb on the lowest note in the right hand and the little finger on the lowest note in the left.
Move from A to D and E without jumping
This is the reason pianists learn inversions: A → D/A → E/G# → A keeps the hand still while the chords change. The common note A stays under the same finger.
- From A to D/A: A stays, C# → D, E → F#.
- From D/A to E/G#: A → G#, D → B, F# → E.
- From E/G# to A: G# → A, B → C#, E stays.
Make the inversions automatic
In ChordRunner any inversion of A counts: play root position, A/C# or A/E and the runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Play the demoCommon questions
What notes are in the A chord 1st inversion?
C# E A, from the bottom up. It is still A; the slash name A/C# tells you that C# is the lowest note.
How do I recognise A/E on the piano?
Look at the lowest interval. In A/E it is a perfect fourth, E to A; the top note of that fourth, A, is the root.
What fingering do I use for A inversions?
Right hand: 1-3-5 for root position and 2nd inversion, 1-2-5 for the 1st inversion. Left hand: 5-3-1 for root position and 1st inversion, 5-2-1 for the 2nd inversion.
Why learn A inversions?
They let you change chords without moving the hand. A → D/A → E/G# → A uses inversions so most notes stay where they are and the others move by a step.
Can I practise A/C# and A/E with a MIDI keyboard?
Yes. ChordRunner detects a USB MIDI keyboard automatically and also listens through the microphone to an acoustic piano. Every inversion of A is accepted, so you can drill them in any order.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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