A/C# Chord
Open PositionThe open A chord with C# added on the A string at fret 4. Index flat across the D, G and B strings at fret 2 (E, A and C#), ring finger on the A string at fret 4, high e open. Mute the low E with the tip of the ring finger — open, it sounds E, which would turn the chord into A/E.
A/C# Chord
7th Fret · E-String BassA four-note closed shape with C# on the low E at fret 9. Middle finger on the low E at fret 9, index on the D string at fret 7 (A), ring on the G string at fret 9 (E), pinky on the B string at fret 10 (A). The underside of the middle finger mutes the A string; keep the high e out.
A/C# Chord
9th Fret · D-String BassThe four-string first-inversion grip: index flat across the G, B and high e strings at fret 9, middle on the B string at fret 10, ring on the D string at fret 11 for C# in the bass. The same grip as D/F# at fret 2, moved up seven frets.
Ring finger over the barre
Lay the index across the D, G and B strings at fret 2, then reach the ring finger over to the A string at fret 4. Arch it so it does not touch the D string.
Keep the low E silent
The open low E is E, the 5th of A. It will not clash, but it would put E in the bass and turn A/C# into A/E. Mute it with the tip of the ring finger.
Walk down from D
D – A/C# – Bm – G is the classic use. Listen to the bass: D, C#, B, G.
Not C#m
C#m has G# where A/C# has A. Keep the A in the chord — it is still an A chord with a different bass.
Same grip as D/F#
The fret-9 shape is the four-string D/F# grip moved up seven frets, and the fret-7 shape is the G/B E-string shape moved up two. One grip each, every first-inversion major chord.
About the A/C# Chord on Guitar
The A/C# chord — said "A over C sharp" — is an A major chord with C# as its lowest note. It has the same three notes as A (A, C# and E); C#, the 3rd, is moved to the bottom, which makes it A in first inversion. It does in the key of D what D/F# does in G: D – A/C# – Bm walks the bass down D–C#–B, one step at a time. On guitar the open version is an A chord with the ring finger added on the A string at fret 4 — mute the low E, or its open E will take over the bass. It is not C#m: C#m has G# where A/C# has A. This page covers three voicings: the open shape, a four-note shape with C# on the low E at fret 9, and a four-string shape at fret 9. Every diagram is interactive and playable with acoustic guitar sound.
- 013 A/C# chord shapes at intermediate level
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Built from 3 notes: A, C# and E, with C# in the bass
- 05Open, E-string bass, and D-string bass voicings
- 06Difficulty rating on every shape
- 07Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the A/C# chord and their role in the major scale.
A/C# is an A major triad — root, major third, perfect fifth — with its 3rd, C#, as the lowest note. That is A in first inversion: the notes of A, with C# on the bottom.
Frequently Asked Questions
x-4-2-2-2-0 — index across the D, G and B strings at fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 4. Mute the low E.
A over C sharp: an A major chord with C# as the lowest note.
No. A/C# is C#, E and A; C#m is C#, E and G#.
In the key of D, between D and Bm — D – A/C# – Bm walks the bass down D–C#–B.