A Flat Major Chord

How to play A♭ on guitar

Read the diagrams with the low E string on the left. × means do not play that string, ○ means play it open.

Easier way: there is no open A♭ shape, so it is usually played with one of the movable shapes above. With a capo you can use a shape you already know: capo on fret 1 and play the G shape, or capo on fret 4 and play the E shape.

How to play A♭ on piano

Play A♭, C, E♭ together. With your right hand, use fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb on A♭). Your left hand can play A♭ an octave lower for a fuller sound.

Chords in the key of A♭ major

These seven chords are built from the A♭ major scale (A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G), so they all sound at home next to A♭.

Common progressions in A♭ major

• I - V - vi - IV: A♭ - E♭ - Fm - D♭
• I - IV - V - I: A♭ - D♭ - E♭ - A♭
• ii - V - I: B♭m - E♭ - A♭
• vi - IV - I - V: Fm - D♭ - A♭ - E♭

The relative minor of A♭ major is Fm. Both keys use the same notes. On the Camelot wheel, A♭ major is 4B.

Related chords

• G♯m (G sharp minor)
• A♭7 (A flat seventh)
• A♭maj7 (A flat major seventh)
• G♯m7 (G sharp minor seventh)
• A♭sus4 (A flat suspended fourth)
• All chords in the library

Change this chord into another key with the Chord Transposer, or look up any other chord or scale in the Chord and Scale Finder.