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A♭ major chord

A♭ major is A♭, C and E♭. It sounds bright and settled, the sound of home in a major key. Also written G♯ (G♯ B♯ D♯): the same keys.

A♭

A♭ major · A♭ C E♭ · 1 3 5

CA♭E♭

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Root
Chord

Tap keys on the piano to find which chord they make. The editor opens without an account.

Notes in the A♭ major chord

From A♭, count 4 half steps up to C and 3 more to E♭. Its formula is 1 3 5: each number is the note’s place in the A♭ major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is one white key and two black keys (A♭ and E♭).

The notes of A♭ major and their intervals from A♭
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
A♭1Root0
C3Major third4
E♭5Perfect fifth7

A♭ major chord inversions

An inversion is the same chord with another of its notes at the bottom. It keeps the chord’s sound but moves your hand less between chords, which is why pianists use them all the time. The notes are listed lowest first.

Root position

A♭ C E♭

Written A♭, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

C E♭ A♭

Written A♭/C: C at the bottom.

2nd inversion

E♭ A♭ C

Written A♭/E♭: E♭ at the bottom.

Keys with the A♭ major chord

A♭ major is built from the notes of these keys, so it fits songs in them. The Roman numeral says which note of the key it starts on. Each key’s page has its scale and all its chords.

Major keys
Minor keys

Raised 7th: the minor key with its seventh note a half step higher (harmonic minor), as most minor songs play their V and vii chords.

Chords that often come after A♭

D♭D♭ F A♭A♭ to D♭ is I to IV, the lift in countless pop, folk and gospel songs.E♭E♭ G B♭A♭ to E♭ is I to V, the chord that pulls back to A♭.FmF A♭ CA♭ to Fm is I to vi, the turn to the sad side of the key.

More piano chords

Other chords on A♭

G♯mA♭7A♭maj7G♯m7A♭sus2A♭sus4A♭add9A♭9A♭6G♯dimG♯m7♭5G♯dim7A♭aug

Major chords on other notes

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GAB♭B

Or see every chord at once on the piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A♭ major chord?

A♭ major is A♭, C and E♭. On the piano that is one white key and two black keys (A♭ and E♭).

How do you play A♭ major on the piano?

With your right hand, put your thumb (1) on A♭, your middle finger (3) on C and your little finger (5) on E♭. With your left hand it is 5, 3 and 1 on the same notes. From A♭, count 4 half steps up to C and 3 more to E♭.

What are the inversions of A♭ major?

Root position: A♭ C E♭. 1st inversion: C E♭ A♭ (A♭/C). 2nd inversion: E♭ A♭ C (A♭/E♭). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is A♭ major in?

In major keys, A♭ major is the I chord in A♭ major, the V chord in D♭ major and the IV chord in E♭ major. In minor keys, it is the VI chord in C minor, the III chord in F minor and the VII chord in B♭ minor.

Is A♭ the same as G♯?

On the piano, yes: the same keys. A♭ (A♭ C E♭) is how it is usually written; as G♯ it is G♯ B♯ D♯.

Can I make a beat with A♭ major?

Yes. “Make a beat with this chord” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in A♭ major on A♭ E♭ Fm D♭, starting on A♭. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat with A♭ major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in A♭ major on A♭ E♭ Fm D♭, starting on A♭. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat with this chordAll piano chords

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