Notes and intervals of A♭ major
- A♭1 · root
- C3 · major third
- E♭5 · perfect fifth
It's the basic chord of almost any song: it works as a point of arrival (the tonic) and as a passing chord.
Progressions with A♭
The basic progression: I – IV – V – I
With these three chords you can play along to hundreds of songs in A♭ major.
The pop progression: I – V – vi – IV
It's the backbone of a huge number of ballads, pop songs and reggaeton hits.
Which keys contain A♭ major?
A♭ belongs to 6 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).
| Key | Degree |
|---|---|
| D♭ major | V |
| E♭ major | IV |
| A♭ major | I |
| C natural minor | VI |
| F natural minor | III |
| B♭ natural minor | VII |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in an A♭ major chord?
A♭ major (A♭) has 3 notes: A♭ (root), C (major third), E♭ (perfect fifth).
How do you play A♭ major on guitar?
The most common shape uses a barre at fret 4: 4 6 6 5 4 4 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Barre fret 4 with your index finger, from the 6th to the 1st string. Finger 3 (ring finger) on fret 6 of the 5th string (A). Finger 4 (pinky) on fret 6 of the 4th string (D). Finger 2 (middle finger) on fret 5 of the 3rd string (G).
Is A♭ the same as G♯?
Yes: A♭ major and G♯ major sound the same and are played the same way (they are enharmonic). The spelling depends on the key of the song; you will see both names in sheet music and songbooks.
What is the difference between A♭ major and G♯ minor?
Only the third changes: A♭ major uses C, and G♯ minor uses B. That note is what makes the chord sound bright (major) or darker (minor).
What is the chord symbol for A-flat major?
It is written A♭; you may also see A♭M or A♭maj. Letter notation uses C, D, E, F, G, A, and B for the solfège notes do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and si.