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E A D G B E

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Key

Chords in Ab major

Ab major is built from the notes Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F and G. Its scale carries 4 flats. Harmonising that scale in thirds gives seven chords — 3 majors, 3 minors and 1 diminished — starting on Ab as the I. The chord on the fifth degree is Eb, a major V, so Ab major has the leading tone that makes a Eb-to-Ab cadence sound final.

Beyond those seven, Ab major commonly borrows Abm (i), Bbdim (iiø), Cb (bIII), Dbm (iv) and Ebm (v) from the parallel minor — the mixture chords that give a progression somewhere unexpected to go.

The seven chords

IAbAb major, position 4, capo 04fr466544iiBbmBb minor, open position, capo 0x13321iiiCmC minor, open position, capo 0x31013IVDbDb major, position 4, capo 04frx46664VEbEb major, position 4, capo 04frx65046viFmF minor, open position, capo 0133111viiøGdimG diminished, open position, capo 03453xx

Extended to four notes each, the same seven degrees give Abmaj7, Bbm7, Cm7, Dbmaj7, Eb7, Fm7, Gm7b5.

Borrowed chords

iAbmAb minor, position 4, capo 04fr466444iiøBbdimBb diminished, open position, capo 0x12320bIIICbCb major, open position, capo 0x24442ivDbmDb minor, position 4, capo 04frx46650vEbmEb minor, open position, capo 0xx1342bVIFbFb major, open position, capo 0022100bVIIGbGb major, open position, capo 0244322
Capo

Capo 1 and play G major shapes to sound Ab major.

All eight capo positions for Ab major →

Related keys

Open Ab major in the explorer →