A Music Note: The Complete Guide to the Note and Key

As one of the twelve notes in Western music, the A music note sits between G#/Ab and A#/Bb. Learn how to recognise A in different clefs, the different scales and modes that start on A and listen to famous songs that feature A prominently in their melodies.

A Note on The Staff

Here is probably the most common A you’ll see. It sits on the second space of the treble clef and is the A above middle C.

Below are different As that you will see on the treble and bass clef. Remember that we can play A notes an octave higher or lower from the A above middle C. This means that technically there are infinite A notes to choose from!

Below are notes that are enharmonically equivalent to A. G double sharp means two half-steps above G, which is an A natural. B double flat means two half steps below B, which is also A natural.

A Note on the Piano and Keyboard

A sits between the G#/Ab and A#/Bb black keys on the keyboard. The black keys move in groups of two then three. The A note is in-between the second and third black key in each group of 3.

You might also remember it as the sixth white key above C. This is because A is a major 6th above C.

A Note Accidentals

We can add accidental signs to an A note and these are shown below. Remember that all these notes (with the exception of A natural) are not enharmonically equivalent to A.

A Music Notes in Different Clefs

Here are typical A notes that you will see in different clefs. Some are lower or higher and for more on how to name the different A notes, check out our post on octaves.

Treble Clef – A

The A above middle C (A4) sits on the second space of the treble clef.

Bass Clef – A

The A below middle C (A3) sits on the top line of the bass clef.

Alto Clef – A

The A below middle C (A3) sits on the second line of the alto clef.

Tenor Clef – A

The A below middle C (A3) sits on the third line of the tenor clef.

Mezzo-soprano Clef – A

The A above middle C (A4) sits on the fourth space of the mezzo-soprano clef.

Soprano Clef – A

The A above middle C (A4) sits on the third space of the soprano clef.

Baritone Clef – A

The A below middle C (A3) sits on the fourth line of the baritone clef.

Popular Scales starting on A

A Major

The major scale formula is W-W-H-W-W-W-H, where W= whole step and H = half step. Below is the A major scale.

A Natural Minor

The natural minor formula is W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Below is the A natural minor scale.

A Harmonic Minor

The harmonic minor formula is W – H – W – W – H – W1/2 – H. Note that this scale has a three semitone step or a whole-step-and-a-half.

A Melodic Minor

When ascending the melodic minor scale follows this pattern: W-H-W-W-W-W-H.

When descending it follows the natural minor pattern.

Modes Starting on A

Below are the modes that start on A.

Frequency of A Music Note

Using the equal temperament tuning system, the A above middle C is 440 Hz.

Solfege A Note

In the solfege system, the syllables Do, Re Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si are used to refer to the notes names, C, D, E , F, G, A, B.

The A music note in solfege is referred to as ‘La’,

What’s Next…?

• Learn about Chords in the Key of A Major
• Learn about more music notes with our music theory basics guides.