A♭ major chordA♭

Built from

• A♭root
• Cmajor 3rd
• E♭5th

The major 3rd sits four frets above the root and makes the chord sound open and sure of itself.

Hear it in a progression

• The pop progression

  Behind countless hits. Hopeful, then bittersweet. In A♭ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. A♭I
  2. E♭V
  3. Fmvi
  4. D♭IV

• Three-chord song

  Folk, rock and roll, campfire. In A♭ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. A♭I
  2. D♭IV
  3. E♭V
  4. A♭I

• Doo-wop

  Fifties ballad, sweet and nostalgic. In A♭ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. A♭I
  2. Fmvi
  3. D♭IV
  4. E♭V

Where it goes next

Thinking in A♭ major, where it is the I chord.

• D♭

  IV. Lifts away from home without leaving it.

• E♭

  V. Builds tension that wants to come back.

• Fm

  vi. Same key, sadder colour: the relative minor.

• B♭m

  ii. A gentle step up that sets up the V chord.

Sounds close

• Fm7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have A♭, C and E♭.

• Cm

  Shares two notes: a softer swap. Both have C and E♭.

• Fm

  Its relative minor: same key, sadder. Both have A♭ and C.

• Cm7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have C and E♭.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• A♭ major
• A♭ major pentatonic
• A♭ mixolydian
• A♭ lydian

Keys it lives in

• A♭ majoras I
• D♭ majoras V
• E♭ majoras IV
• C minoras VI
• F minoras III
• B♭ minoras VII