Chords › A♭ major
A Flat Major Chord on Guitar
- A♭
- A♭ · C · E♭
- Barre at fret 4
- Also written G♯
E-shape barre
Easy, four strings. Play only the top four strings. It has all three notes of the chord and no full barre.
A flat major, written A♭, is a major chord: the root, the major third and the fifth. A♭ has no open shape, so it is usually played as an E-shape barre chord at the 4th fret, and there is an easier four-string version for beginners.
How to play A♭, finger by finger
- Lay your index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at the 4th fret.
- Put your middle finger on string 3 at the 5th fret.
- Put your ring finger on string 5 at the 6th fret.
- Put your pinky finger on string 4 at the 6th fret.
- Strum all six strings.
Easy A♭ for beginners
Play only the top four strings. It has all three notes of the chord and no full barre.
More ways to play A♭
Notes in A♭ major
| Note | Interval | Role |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ | 1 | root |
| C | 3 | major third |
| E♭ | 5 | fifth |
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5
Questions about A♭
What notes are in A♭?
A♭, C and E♭. Those are the 1, 3, 5 of the chord, counted from A♭.
What is the easiest way to play A♭?
Play the four-string version on the top strings, frets 6, 5, 4, 4 from the 4th string to the 1st. Move to the full barre at the 4th fret when your index finger is ready.
Is A♭ the same as G♯?
Yes, on guitar they are played the same way and sound the same. A flat and G sharp are two names for one note: songs in sharp keys write G♯, songs in flat keys write A♭.
Related chords
Often played with A♭
Other major chords