A♭ minor chordA♭m

Built from

• A♭root
• C♭minor 3rd
• E♭5th

Lowering the 3rd by one fret is the only difference from major, and it changes the whole mood.

Hear it in a progression

• Epic minor

  Film scores and stadium anthems. In G♯ minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. G♯mi
  2. EVI
  3. BIII
  4. F♯VII

• Minor cadence

  Dark, then a strong pull home. In G♯ minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. G♯mi
  2. C♯miv
  3. D♯7V7
  4. G♯mi

• Andalusian cadence

  Flamenco and surf rock, stepping down. In G♯ minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. G♯mi
  2. F♯VII
  3. EVI
  4. D♯V

Where it goes next

Thinking in G♯ minor, where it is the i chord.

• E

  VI. Opens up into something bittersweet.

• C♯m

  iv. Goes darker still.

• F♯

  VII. Steps down: a rock and folk staple.

• B

  III. Brightens into the relative major.

Sounds close

• Emaj7

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

• B

  Its relative major: same key, brighter. Both have C♭ and E♭.

• E

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

• D♭7

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

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• G♯ minor
• G♯ minor pentatonic
• G♯ blues
• G♯ dorian
• G♯ phrygian
• G♯ harmonic minor

Keys it lives in

• G♯ minoras i
• C♯ minoras v
• E♭ minoras iv
• B majoras vi
• F♯ majoras ii
• E majoras iii