A♭ major chord
A♭
- A♭R
- C3
- E♭5
Barre · E shape · 4th fret
What each note does
- A♭ is the root. It names the chord and is the note your ear hears as home.
- C is the major third. It makes the chord sound bright. Lower it a half step to C♭ and the chord turns minor.
- E♭ is the fifth. It adds weight without changing the character, so it is the first note to drop when a voicing gets crowded.
More voicings
Triad · top 3 strings · 4th fret
Triad · middle strings · 1st fret
Progressions that use A♭
- Open in builder →
i–VII–VI–v · C minor · Andalusian
CmB♭A♭Gm
- Open in builder →
I–V–vi–IV · E♭ major · Pop
E♭B♭CmA♭
- Open in builder →
I–vi–IV–V · E♭ major · 50s
E♭CmA♭B♭