FMFretboardMentor
PL

A♭ Chord on Guitar

A♭ is the A♭ major chord — 3 notes (A♭, C, E♭) built from the formula 1 3 5. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: A♭ · C · E♭Formula: 1 · 3 · 5Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

A♭: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • A♭ – fret 1R35R3Rfret 1
  • A♭ – fret 44R5R35Rfret 4
  • A♭ – fret 66××R5R3fret 6
  • A♭ – fret 88×R35R3fret 8
  • A♭ – fret 1111×R5R35fret 11

A♭: Triad voicings (3 strings)

  • A♭ – bass: RR35×××bass: R
  • A♭ – bass: R8×R35××bass: R
  • A♭ – bass: R4××R35×bass: R
  • A♭ – bass: R11×××R35bass: R
  • A♭ – bass: 3635R×××bass: 3
  • A♭ – bass: 3×35R××bass: 3
  • A♭ – bass: 38××35R×bass: 3
  • A♭ – bass: 3×××35Rbass: 3
  • A♭ – bass: 5105R3×××bass: 5
  • A♭ – bass: 55×5R3××bass: 5
  • A♭ – bass: 5××5R3×bass: 5
  • A♭ – bass: 58×××5R3bass: 5

Keys that contain A♭

Scales to play over A♭

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain A♭, C, E♭.

Other A♭ chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Major chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the A♭ chord?
A♭ (A♭ major) contains A♭, C, E♭ — formula 1 3 5.
How do you play A♭ on guitar?
A common shape is 431114 (low E to high E, x = muted string, around fret 1). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with A♭?
Good choices to solo over A♭: A♭ Ionian (Major), A♭ Lydian, A♭ Major pentatonic.
What key is A♭ in?
A♭ is diatonic in D♭ major (V), E♭ major (IV), A♭ major (I), C minor (♭VI), F minor (♭III), B♭ minor (♭VII).