Scale degrees · A major

The 5 of A is E

The 5 (five) of A is E: a perfect fifth above the root.

A — the root, 1E — the 5

How to find it

Count letters first, the root included: A, B, C, D, E. A 5th lands on E.

Then the sound: a perfect fifth is 7 semitones above A, which is exactly where E is — no sharp or flat needed.

Where you meet it

The 5 is the most stable note after the root; a power chord is just the two of them.

In A5:

A · E

The 5 in every key

KeyThe 5
CG
GD
DA
AE
EB
BF♯
F♯C♯
D♭A♭
A♭E♭
E♭B♭
B♭F
FC

Every degree of A

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